ML041750369
| ML041750369 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Point Beach, WM-00011  |
| Issue date: | 06/14/2004 |
| From: | Jenkins D Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association |
| To: | NRC/ADM/DAS/RDB |
| References | |
| -nr, 69FR26624 00015 | |
| Download: ML041750369 (2) | |
Text
A Division of the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives 131 West Wilson Street, Suite 400
- Madison, WI 53703
- Phone (608) 258-4400
- FAX (608) 258-4407 Statement of David J. Jenkins, Manager Electric Division Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives Re: License Renewal of Point Beach Unit I June 14, 2004 37~ 7 /Z
-3B Chief, Rules and Directives Branch Division of Administration Services L-Office of Administration Mailstop T-6D59 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 5
Washington, DC 20555-0001 A
ATTN: 'Federal Registrar 5.13.04 -Pg. 26624-26625 The Electric' Division of the Wisconsin Federation of( Cooperatives 'consists of 24 consuniier-owned electric cooperatives serving.215,000 retail electric consumers in the state.'
Though none of our members has a wholesale power contract with We Energies, the continued operation of both units at Point Beach are beneficial to us and to all electric consumers in the state.
There are several reasons: :
- Point Beach is a low-cost resource. The more low-cost electric resources there are in the state, the less pressure is placed on wholesale electricity costs, which all utilities at one time or another, must access. No conceivable replacement for Point Beach would be able to produce power at its current productioni'costs.
- Point Beach is a zero-emissions resource. Only hydroelectric and some (not all) renewable resources have zero emissions. This is especially beneficial in an area'of the state which has close proximity to Lake Michigan and urban areas such as Milwaukee.
Like all nuclear reactors, Point Beach produces spent fuel. The overwhelming majority of both houses of Congress have expressed their will that the spent fuel storage repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, be made operational.'
'~**Point Beach is a reliable electricity resourec. Because of Wisconsin's severe transmission constraints, more pressurc than usual is placed on the reliable operation of the state's indigenous electric generators. Point Beach has reliably contributed about' one-sixth'of the state's electricity supply and nearly 25% of We Energies generation capability. This is extremely important for all utilities in Wisconsin. Instability or outages at Point Beach can affect the entire state. Having a reliable baseload plant in its present location is vary important to the stability of the state's transmission system.
-Visit our web site at www.wfcmac.coop -
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Page 2 There will be testimony in this license renewal case from groups that seek to shut down all three nuclear reactors in Wisconsin, even though some of the same groups acknowledge the reliable operation and low cost of these reactors. We ask the Commission to reject these arguments. We see nuclear energy playing an increasing, not decreasing, role in the nation and the world in producing low-cost, emissions free, reliable electric power.
We strongly urge and respectfully request that the Commission renew the licenses at both Point Beach Units.
David J._Jenkins, Manager Electric Division Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives 131 West Wilson Street, Suite 400 Madison, WI 53703-3269 (608) 258-4409 david.jenkins(a-),%vfcmac.coop