There is no other way to interpret this 2 minute YouTube clip of Mr. Wolf speaking, I believe at a closed entrance way to the Pilgrim nuclear plant. He clearly suggests denying Entergy the permit to build their dry cast containers to hold the spent fuel rods.
Mr Wolf says ‘we didn’t sign up for a 60 year waste dump, the plant has been here for the fourty years it was originally given, the deal was not to keep all the spent fuel here, and the next 20 years worth will be here, if we allow it to continue. Mr. Wolf goes on to say the politicians are to act on behalf of the people, not a corporation based in Louisiana.
I believe we should have clarification. By denying the dry cast construction, did Mr. Wolf hope to close Pilgrim way before the their license to operate expires in 2032. Does Mr. Wolf want Yucca Mountian to be a nuclear waste repository and should our delegation in D.C. push for this, so Plymouth can be rid of its nuclear waste.
Lastly, what a cheap shot on Entergy, the fine owner of Pilgrim since 1999. This Louisiana company employs 650 workers at Pilgrim, mostly union folks. This Louisiana company pays $7 million in annual property taxes to Plymouth, and donates thousands of dollars in charity organizations in and around Plymouth. Finding a decent paying job today in a global economy, may require people to work for companies whose HQ is outside Massachusetts, not like we can choose a job like we choose to shop at a local farmers market.
IMO, Mr. Wolf’s comments send the wrong message to the workers at Pilgrim, rate payers, and businesses in general who may want to either expand or locate in Massachusetts.
footnote:
“Generating electricity with nuclear energy prevents the emission of pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) associated with burning fossil fuels.
During 2011, environmental emissions avoided due to nuclear power plant operation in Massachusetts included 4,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, 800 tons of nitrogen oxide and 2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.*
Emissions of SO2 lead to the formation of acid rain. NOx is a key precursor of both ground-level ozone and smog. Greenhouse gases like CO2 contribute to global warming.”
