Learn what Exelon wants you to know about the proposed decommissioning process. While the High Level Radioactive Waste will remain onsite, they intend to remove the two reactors, all structures and support buildings, and preparing the site for other undisclosed uses. "Refreshments will be served!!"

Exelon has contracted with EnergySolutions to dismantle the nuclear plant.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission must approve the arrangement and the parties are also seeking a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service about the transfer of tax-qualified decommissioning funds.

Zion Nuclear Station sits on 257 acres on the shore of Lake Michigan about 40 miles north of Chicago. It has not produced power since 1997.

EnergySolutions is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company was formed in 2006 by merging BNG America, Duratek, Environcare of Utah and the D&D division of Scientech.

Exelon Corporation is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities with approximately $19 billion in annual revenues.

Here are some of our concerns:

• There will be an increased risk of a nuclear radiation release during deconstruction.
• Will the public be informed when there is heightened risk?
• They plan to leave behind the High Level Radioactive Waste (HLRW) in casks, so the site will still be dangerous, and far from a "greenfield" that anyone can re-use. Have they fully implemented the Hardened On Site Storage (HOSS) required by law to protect the public from this dangerous material? Will there be ongoing security protection for this material?
• It would be horrible to transport all that LLRW with the possibility of an accident.
• It would be horrible to contaminate some other site in Utah to make way for a new power plant at Zion.
• When they sign the deal they will claim success of having built, operated, shut down, and decommissioned a nuclear plant without a catastrophic accident. That will be powerful ammunition for those who want a nuclear renaissance. Of course, they'll fail to mention the mining, refining, and storage.
• It would be horrible to have Exelon build a new reactor at Zion, even if today they don't think they will.
• That site has access to Lake Michigan for cooling water, and big power lines to carry away electricity. It's hard to imagine that Exelon won't build a new power plant there of some kind - if not nuclear, then coal.
• Even wind energy there would be bad, as it's definitely a migratory bird flyway.
• Exelon has deeper pockets in the event of an accident. If EnergySolutions has an accident, or makes a mistake, they could lose credibility as a nuclear deconstruction contractor, and lose their revenue stream to cover big cost overruns. Then we'll be stuck with it. A single accident could cost $billions.
• In case anything goes wrong, Exelon would be shielded from liability, and litigate rather than clean up. Rather than protect the environment, Exelon is protecting its stockholders. This has been shown time and time again to result in someone cutting corners.
• If ES comes up with a particularly bad plan, we might have less influence over a Utah company than we'd have over Exelon.
• Exelon stands to gain considerable savings by doing this early, that is ratepayer money and should be invested green energy to lower our rates. They also seek a tax dodge from the IRS.
• If taxpayers give Exelon a break, will Exelon donate this Illinois Beach State Park inholding to IDNR?
• Has EnergySolutions done and other nuclear accelerated decommissioning projects? How well have they done? Is Zion a test case?

Attend the next meeting:

Tuesday, March 18, 8:00 p.m.
 

Send an e-mail to:

• North Shore School District 112 Superintendent Maureen Hager mhager@nssd112.org

• Highland Park Mayor Michael Belsky michael.belsky@fitchrating.com

• School Board Members>>

Ask about:

• Destruction of rare wooded wetlands.
  Wetlands should be avoided, but the new facility (reddish) is planned directly on top of this valuable wetland (bluish).

• Deceptive loss of hundreds of oak trees.
  Is the school exempt from the Highland Park tree ordinance? If so, should that extend to this CFC facility?

• Interpretive trail to be ruined.
  The trail near the Vernal Pool would be ripped up to connect to storm sewer.

• Degradation of Chicago River’s Middle Fork.
  Piping more stormwater runoff from the new buildings (reddish), roads and lots (white) means more pollution into the river.

• Poor stormwater planning impacts Deerfield.
  The homes across Carriage Way will be more prone to flooding of the river. Natural runoff will also occur to the NE into the Skokie watershed.

See more information at Red School.
Contact Victoria Oberman at ww-redoak@illinois.sierraclub.org to help out.

Jill Russell and Victor Wolbrink, Wolbrink Architects

Construction and use of homes and other structures has an unquestionable effect on nature, through the use of materials, land and energy. Luckily, there is a trend among leading architects towards sustainable designs and low impact construction practices, including the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program gaining wide acceptance in the industry.

Our speakers, Jill Russell, LEED certified general contractor, and Victor Wolbrink, principal architect, received Mayor Daley’s 2006 Greenworks Award for Market Transformation and designed and built the first Energy Star three-flat in Chicago.

At our March meeting, Russell and Wolbrink will explain environmentally friendly building and industry improvements, much of which can be applied to your own homes and workplaces.

Conservation Committee Meeting Immediately preceding 6:00 p.m.

If you watched An Inconvenient Truth and felt the need to do something…
If you take pride in standing up for your beliefs…
If you want to be part of a community effort that will make a difference…
Then take part in the GLOBAL WARMING CAFÉ.
Because we have a lot to talk about…

Do you know that the typical U.S. household generates 55,000 pounds of CO2 annually… compared to only 27,000 pounds in Germany and a mere 15,000 pounds in Sweden? There are many ways that we can lower our “carbon footprint.” And guess what… it’s easier when we all do it together. Come find out how!

We invite you to join us for an exciting Global Warming Café. It’s a powerful, new social change technology that enables us to experience the power of community. You’ll interact with a broad cross-section of Lake County citizens in frank and open conversation to help us reflect deeply on what global warming means to each of us, individually and as a community. We’ll exchange views, feelings and ideas. Then we will learn about a program, Low Carbon Diet, to help us lower our carbon footprint while saving money and transfer this knowledge to our communities and workplaces.

COST: $14 includes:

• the LOW CARBON DIET Workbook,
• one seat,
• chances on LOW CARBON DOOR PRIZES
• complimentary Fair Trade caf/decaf coffee

Conservation Committee Meeting Immediately preceding 6:00 p.m.

David Meyer, President Rainforest Conservation Fund

The Rainforest Conservation Fund (RCF) is an all volunteer organization founded by a small group of Chicagoland residents concerned about rainforest destruction. Since it's beginning in 1988, they've focused their efforts on Peru's one million acre Reserva Comunal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo (RCTT), home to the most diverse assembly of primate species on any protected land in the world.

Mr. Meyer will tell us how RCF works with the adjacent communities to limit destructive activities through alternative methods and industries. By protecting the Reserva, the Rainforest Conservation Fund is protecting numerous unique and endangered animals, including jaguar, pink river dolphin, harpy eagle, red uakari monkey, giant otter, and the giant anteater.

Conservation Committee Meeting Immediately preceding 6:00 p.m.