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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mark Reddemann: Support strong for nuclear energy

Mark Reddemann

Washington’s legislative Joint Select Task Force on Nuclear Energy begins its second year of meetings next month. The state’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council is working on a study to determine potential locations for a small modular nuclear reactor. Results are due later this year.

NuScale Power, a Portland-based SMR developer, will submit its design for NRC approval next year.

It’s clear the Northwest is leading in this next generation of clean-energy technology – and with broad support.

Earlier this year, Bisconti Research asked 500 Washington residents their thoughts about nuclear energy. Survey participants included residents in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties; as well as Spokane, Benton and Franklin counties, among others.

The results: 63 percent of Washington residents favor the use of nuclear energy. An even greater percentage of people, 76 percent, believe nuclear energy will be important to meeting future energy needs.

The survey revealed a stunning disconnect in perception about support for nuclear energy. While 63 percent voiced their support for nuclear energy, only 19 percent thought this would be the case. In fact, 47 percent believe that a majority of people in their community oppose nuclear energy. We are glad to dispel that myth.

Energy Northwest also recently participated in a plant neighbor survey. This is a survey Bisconti Research conducts specifically of our neighbors, those who live within a 10-mile radius of Columbia Generating Station, the region’s nuclear energy facility. The survey had a sample size of 300 residents. The margin of error is plus or minus 6 percentage points.

Bisconti Research uses nine standard measures to produce a Nuclear Energy Favorability Index. The index is derived from questions such as, “Do you favor nuclear energy?” and “Do you believe a majority of people in your community favor nuclear energy?” It also asks about the attributes associated with nuclear energy, such as clean air, safety and reliability.

The Nuclear Energy Favorability Index for Columbia Generating Station is 88.6. The average for all 60 nuclear plant sites across the country is 76.9. As the research firm concluded, “The level of support for nuclear energy near Columbia Generating Station is well above all benchmarks.”

When asked specifically about their impressions of Columbia Generating Station and how it has recently operated, local residents gave Columbia a 93 percent favorable rating. (The average for all 60 nuclear energy sites is 89.)

Why is the support so high for Columbia?

The survey tells us that community support is based on confidence in plant safety; the way Columbia is managed; our employees’ contributions to the community; and, an appreciation for the benefits of nuclear energy.

That is an important one for us and the community as a whole. The Tri-Cities area has a real opportunity, thanks to the work of the Tri-Cities Economic Development Council, state Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, and others, to become the center for future nuclear energy technology and manufacturing. In fact, 93 percent agree we should prepare now to build a new nuclear plant in the next decade, and 89 percent believe we should definitely build more nuclear power plants in the future. Statewide, a majority of residents, 53 percent, believe we need to build more nuclear power plants in the future.

There may be opportunities to do that – likely not a large plant like Columbia but a smaller reactor, such as the one being developed by NuScale. These small modular reactors, with an output of less than 350 megawatts, can fill a variety of needs, including balancing the intermittent output of wind turbines. They, like all nuclear plants, emit near-zero carbon.

Our No. 1 job at Energy Northwest is to protect the health and safety of the public. When we do that right, we are able to produce reliable, cost-effective and environmentally responsible electricity. The support we see for nuclear energy from these recent surveys, both statewide and in our own backyard, tells us we are fulfilling our mission.

Mark Reddemann is chief executive officer of Energy Northwest, which owns and operates Columbia Generating Station.