The State : Nuclear Vote Held Binding

A Sacramento Superior Court Judge has ruled that Ballot Measure C for continued operation of the Rancho Seco nuclear power plant is legally binding, and rejected a plea that it go to the voters labeled “advisory only.” Sacramentans for Safe Energy, a citizen action group that wants to shut Rancho Seco down, had argued that the measure’s wording left the directors of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District free to amend it at any time, regardless of the outcome of the vote. “It will certainly be binding under a ‘yes’ vote,” Judge Richard Park ruled. However, Park said there is doubt whether the measure would be legally binding if SMUD chose to sell the controversial plant. Attorneys for the citizen’s group insisted the board plans to find a buyer for Rancho Seco soon after the June 7 election in which Sacramento-area voters will also be considering Measure B, which in effect would close the plant down.