The Maryland Public Service Commission approved construction of a proposed experimental, double-size nuclear reactor – the third reactor proposed for construction at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby, Maryland.
The State also decreed it is in “the public interest” to allow the utility firm, Constellation Energy, to participate in a joint venture with Electricite de France, (EDF) in the formation of a new company, UniStar, each with roughly 50% ownership. The government of France has 84% ownership in EDF, the French utility firm.
In July, 2009, citizens from around Maryland announced our plans to halt construction of the proposed third reactor at Calvert Cliffs. Our citizens’ group is called People Against A Radioactive Chesapeake (PAARC). Read More
There are many reasons PAARC opposes construction of a third reactor at Calvert Cliffs. Our primary objections follow:
• The routine, everyday toxic and radioactive releases from nuclear reactors are most unhealthy for humans, the environment, wildlife, and the Bay.
• Cancers in Calvert County (home to Calvert Cliffs) are 4th highest out of 23 Maryland counties – despite the fact that Calvert County has no industry other than power plants! Adding insult to injury, the state has no air quality monitors to measure the toxic and radioactive releases!
• Eleven (11) reactors already discharge thermal (hot), toxic, and radioactive releases into the dead-and-dying Chesapeake Bay and the tributaries that flow into it. The Bay is already 40% void of oxygen in some areas (i.e., “dead zones”) and severely imperiled in others. Adding another reactor would make this a “dirty dozen” our beloved Bay just can’t handle!
• The 1,710 MegaWatt AREVA EPR reactor proposed for construction at Calvert Cliffs is a French design “reference” or test reactor that has never before operated anywhere in the world. Three nations have expressed safety concerns regarding the EPR design. We protest being used as “guinea pigs” for this dangerous nuclear experiment!
• The thermal discharges into our air and the Bay contribute to global warming.
• A true Global Warming Nightmare, the 1,710 MegaWatt Reactor refers to Electricity ONLY. The reactor will make three times that much HEAT! Two thirds of the Heat will be Wasted and Dumped directly into the Bay and our Air. In real numbers, this is a giant Double-Size 5,100 MegaWatt Thermal Reactor that will very inefficiently barely manage to extract a measly 1,710 MegaWatts of Electricty. Think of this reactor as nothing more than just a huge space heater contributing massively to Global Warming! In comparison? The same size coal or natural gas plant would generate twice as much electricity. Thermal Efficiency of those plants approaches or equals 60%.
• The AREVA EPR is designed for use with 100% MOX (Mixed Oxide) fuel. The MOX fuel will be produced from surplus Bomb-Plutonium manufactured at the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River Site beginning in 2016. The tests for this illegal fuel were discontinued 1 ½ years early, after abnormal growth occurred on the fuel assemblies. We call this MOX fuel POX (P for Plutonium) – a Plague on Humanity! Air and Bay discharges from Bomb-Plutonium fuel are even more lethal and dangerous than Uranium fuel. A nuclear accident involving Bomb-Plutonium fuel would make Chernobyl look like a walk in the park!
• Despite the health problems and safety risks incurred, the power generated will not even be used for Marylanders alone, but will carried via transmission lines off to New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania. In other words, Marylanders will be forced to incur all the dangers, health risks, and destruction of our environment... without the benefit of reaping all of the electricity generated by the new reactor!
• Construction costs for this new reactor are expected to well exceed $10 Billion, with some estimates putting the final costs closer to double that amount. Can you just IMAGINE how much cleaner, safer, sustainable – more SANE energy (such as wind and solar, etc.) we could generate with all that money instead?!
• Every single donation – every single dollar you send – helps bring these truths to the public and will assist us in waging costly legal battles we now must face. Determined to fight the construction of Calvert Cliffs 3, we are in this fight for the long haul! PAARC is a 501© 3 charitable non-profit organization. Please send your tax-deductible donation (no amount is too small!) made payable to PAARC:
PAARC
PO Box 2014
Baltimore, MD 21203
• Please join our group, receive updates and receive more information! Write to: NukeFreeChesBay@yahoo.com
• Spread the word! Tell all your friends about PAARC’s mission to stop the deadly proposed nuclear reactor on the Chesapeake Bay!
• Write, call, and/or visit all of your elected officials, including your local county officials, Governor Martin O’Malley www.gov.state.md.us/ and your state delegates and senators http://mdelect.net/ . Tell them you want them to HALT the dangerous, deadly new experimental reactor at Calvert Cliffs on the Bay!