Voters Close Rancho Seco Plant: ‘The Nuclear Energy Quandary’

While we agree with the need for standardizing nuclear power plant designs, your editorial “The Nuclear Energy Quandary” (June 13) suggests that the electric utility industry is dragging its feet on making the necessary changes to implement such standardized plant designs.

In reality, the industry is actively pursuing the standardization of plant designs and has been for many years. Several utilities have, in fact, built plants based on standardized designs. Electric utilities are working closely with the Electric Power Research Institute and the Department of Energy in their research and development of new generation standardized nuclear power plants. Utilities have long recognized that standardized plants are easier to build; easier to operate; use interchangeable parts, thus reducing down time, and, operational lessons learned at one plant can be easily transferred to all plants. The adoption of standard plant designs has been a goal of the electric power industry and we are pleased to see a provision in the recently-passed Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s licensing reform bill calling for such designs.

It is also important to note that contrary to the claim that “ . . . The industry is not clamoring for changes in the system . . . ,” operational improvements over the past decade have, in fact, enabled the U.S. to become more reliant on nuclear energy to help meet the nation’s energy needs. Electricity generated by nuclear power plants accounted for nearly 20% of the nation’s energy supply in 1988, compared to just over 11% a decade ago.

Other changes include the establishment in 1979 of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), an independent industry organization that is charged with monitoring nuclear plant operations and promoting improved safety and reliability in the operation of nuclear power plants using peer reviews. INPO’s National Academy for Nuclear Training was also formed to improve training and qualification programs and to promote professionalism of nuclear plant personnel. The industry’s renewed commitment is paying off as the decade’s highest availability factors for nuclear plants were achieved this year.

The closing of the Rancho Seco nuclear energy plant should not be viewed as a condemnation of nuclear energy as one of several viable alternatives to the nation’s energy supply. Nuclear power plants can and do operate safely and efficiently in this country. We need nuclear energy and strongly urge that it continue to be viewed as a major contributor to the nation’s broad energy mix.

JOHN J. KEARNEY

Senior Vice President

Edison Electric Institute

Washington, D.C.