Alert: Speak Out for Cooling Towers on Oyster Creek!
From NJ Chapter Sierra Club:
Oyster Creek is the oldest running nuclear power plant in the country. Not surprisingly, its cooling technology is antiquated.
Water from the Barnegat Bay, is circulated through the plant cooling its systems, and then returned directly to the Bay. The artificially heated water kills fish and pollutes the bay. The Barnegat Bay deserves the best available technology and that means requiring cooling towers at the plant.
Oyster Creek is permitted to produce energy for another 19 years, we can’t let them put off cooling towers any longer. The current corporation has already put off constructing cooling towers for 10 years. Learn more about the fight for cooling towers.
Come speak out at a public hearing on the DEP permit to require cooling towers!
Wednesday, February 24 from 1-4pm and 7-9pm
Lacey Township Municipal Building, 818 West Lacey Road, Forked River
AND
Wednesday, March 3, from 1–4 pm
DEP Public Hearing Room, 401 East State Street Trenton
Click here to send your comments to the DEP via email and RSVP to the hearing!
Thanks for your support,
NJ Sierra Club Staff
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Water from the Barnegat Bay is circulated through the plant to cool its systems, and then returned directly to the Bay. The artificially heated water kills fish and pollutes the bay. The Barnegat Bay deserves the best available technology and that means requiring cooling towers at the plant. Here are some key points for you to mention in your comments:
- 1.7 billion gallons of Barnegat Bay water gets sucked into and passes through Oyster Creek’s antiquated cooling system every day. This is 2.8% of the total volume (60 billion gallons) of Barnegat Bay per day and over 790% of the bay per year.
- Effects on the bay are serious. Circulating bay water through the plant is literally straining the life from the Barnegat Bay. The documented negative effects include: massive destruction of shellfish larvae, fish eggs, and plankton, large fish kills, and the release of biocides into the bays. The water returned to the bay is 110 degrees, significantly altering the ecology of the bay.
- Cooling towers should be built in three years, not seven. The DEP permit would give Exelon seven years to construct cooling towers. This is too long; it can and should be done in less time. The requirement for cooling towers as the best technology has been up since 1972. When Exelon purchased the plant 10 years ago, they were well aware of this issue. There is no more time for extra time. Exelon must complete construction as swiftly as possible.
- Cooling towers are not cost prohibitive. Exelon’s argument against cooling towers is cost. Exelon is the world’s second most profitable energy company. Cooling towers will cost approximately $150 million, according to industry consultant. Exelon makes $200 million in pure profit on the plant every year. Considering they also purchased the plant for a steal – only $10 million – the costs of ethical and environmentally-friendly business are not out of their reach.
- Requiring cooling towers would create jobs. Constructing cooling towers would create jobs for an additional 200-300 workers at the plant for 2 to 3 years. In addition, cooling towers would protect the jobs created by the bay, including commercial and recreational fisherman, marinas, bait and tackle shops etc.