Bill to lift California moratorium fails
17 April 2007
Attempts by Chuck DeVore to lift California's moratorium on new nuclear build were rejected by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, as DeVore predicted.
Assemblyman Chuck DeVore had said in early April that his bill would not see the light of day in the current session but believed a growing interest in nuclear power will keep it alive in future sessions.
A Central Valley group, Fresno Nuclear Energy Group LLC, has been pushing to build a nuclear power plant in Fresno County were the moratorium to be lifted.
Fresno Nuclear Energy Group's leaders said today they are exploring a possible ballot measure, a move supported by UC Berkeley Nuclear Engineering professor Per Peterson, who says nuclear power is now safer.
"What's happening now that's really positive is that we're looking again at the technology, because so much has changed in 30 years," said Peterson.
Now, DeVore is concerned about the state's energy supply.
"Unless we put in place the planning process and begin new modern and safe nuclear power plants, we will not be able to have enough power to power our grid," DeVore said.
Further information
Chuck DeVore's official website
WNA's California's Electricity information paper
WNN: Bill introduced to lift Californian moratorium
WNN: Nuclear power plant proposed for Fresno, California