News from People’s Action for Clean Energy

by Judi Friedman, PACE

Fukushima is still pouring out radiation. Here is some wise advice from Paul Gunter of Beyond Nuclear: In case of a nuclear accident, keep IOSAT tablets in your medicine cabinet. (They have a long shelf life.) www.amazon.com/iOSAT-Potassium-Iodide-Tablets-130/dp/B00006NT3A/ref=sr_1_2/s=UTF8&qid=1409674014&sr=1-2. In case you want to know about nuclear safety in the United States, here are excerpts from a wonderful report!
Nuclear Shutdown News, July 2014, by Michael News, Black Rain Press
US nuclear plants were designed to last 40 years. As a growing number of these nukes are approaching or have surpassed 40 years of operation, they are becoming more prone to have things go wrong that cause them to experience unplanned shutdowns and put us increasingly at risk.

The State newspaper of South Carolina reported that on July 15 the Summer reactor in the Peach State shut down after radioactive water leaked through a safety valve into the plant. This valve is part of a safety system that would supply water to the reactor core in case of an emergency, to keep the nuclear fuel from becoming uncovered and prevent a meltdown. Repairs were expected to take two weeks. The plant’s owner, South Carolina Power & Gas, wants to build two new reactors next to this 30 year old shut down one.
The two Indian Point reactors, located on the Hudson River, 35 miles north of New York City, are also pushing 40. On July 21 the Wall Street Journal reported that New York State wants to have the nukes be shut down 92 days a year, from May 10 to August 10. Presently the plant averages shutdowns 42 days a year, due to emptying water hotter than allowed by law in the river, causing thermal pollution and consequently excessive fish kills.

Opponents contend that change would put Indian Point out of business, which is just what New York State wants, claiming it’s too dangerous to have a nuclear plant operating so close to NYC.

On July 28, Connecticut’s Millstone 2 reactor shut down for the fourth time this year, the New London Day reported at the end of July. Millstone 2 will turn 40 next year. The most recent shutdown occurred after a safety pump failed and could not be fixed within the required time. It turned out the pump was clogged by a stray piece of metal.