Passed 5/6/2013
WHEREAS: the San Onofre Nuclear plant (SONGS) experienced an emergency shutdown and radioactive steam release January 31, 2012 after replacing four steam generators, leading to both Unit 2 and Unit 3 being shutdown since that time; and
WHEREAS: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) preliminarily stated at its June 18, 2012 inspection hearing that the likely cause of the steam generator tube degradation was a design flaw that should have been identified by the manufacturer and the NRC will be holding additional investigative hearings in the months ahead to fully understand the causes and future options; the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is responsible for protecting California ratepayers; and the NRC is accepting public comments until May 16 on a proposed restart of Unit 2 at 70% power; and the California Energy Commission and Independent System Operator have announced they are planning for no SONGS supply through 2013-14 to ensure there are no rolling blackouts which may damage an already fragile economic recovery; and
WHEREAS, when fully operational, SONGS is a major source of employment for 2,200 men and women of the building trades; and the uncertainty about its restart provides a concrete opportunity for California to realize the demonstrated potential for energy efficiency and conservation as a resource in its own right and of renewable energy power including utility scale solar, wind, geothermal and rooftop solar and micro-turbine wind power to offset this possible withdrawal of supply;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley calls upon our State policy makers and the CPUC to: a) direct a focused implementation of renewable energy programs that generate high quality jobs, pay prevailing wage, incorporate local jobs through Project Labor Agreements, and include solar power on residential homes to reduce peak energy costs and water demand, improve air quality, and put the men and women of the building trades back to work in the service territories supplied by SONGS; and b) order utility-funded incentives for the owners of nonresidential buildings in these service territories to implement the California Energy Commission’s new energy efficiency standards before their official start date on January 1, 2014; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley will submit this resolution to the NRC to oppose the proposed license amendment to allow a restart at 70% power and calls for an independent design review prior to the NRC’s decision to permit a restart of either Unit 2 or 3, culminating in an adjudicatory hearing including discovery, testimony and cross-examination by independent experts on whether it is safe to restart SONGS before it makes a decision on whether to permit a restart of either Unit 2 or 3.