Second reactor at Shearon Harris?

By Mike Cross
Posted Thursday, June 2, 2005

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Nancy and I attended this meeting hosted by Rev. Carrie Bolton, Pastor of Alston Chapel Church, Mr. Gary Phillips, former Chatham Commissioner, and Jim Warren of NC WARN. The principal topic was concerns over Progress Energy's interest in adding a second reactor to their existing plant in New Hill (Wake County) NC.

Mr. David Lockbaum, Nuclear Safety Engineer for the Union of Concerned Scientists, presented a very informative overview of the nuclear power industry and their problems as they see them.

Their primary concerns are:

* Terrorist threat with used rod storage pools
* Containment sump pump failures for emergency coolout operations
* Fire Hazard -- possibility of burned control cables, seals and wraps.
* Station Blackout caused by loss of power from associated electrical grid with simultaneous failure of emergency generators
* Aging reactors
* Cost-cutting owners
* Ineffective regulation by the NRC

Approximately 65 area residents attended and participated in discussion and Q&A.

I appreciate everyone's interest and the information/education I received.