tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post5710526326639983408..comments2024-03-28T07:54:47.319-04:00Comments on The Gossips of Rivertown: Environmental History on the HudsonCarole Osterinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010623982526286408noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-64603828201803076992012-02-28T15:07:36.184-05:002012-02-28T15:07:36.184-05:00Very interesting and thank you for the report.Very interesting and thank you for the report.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14147241257381928706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-35775939181092329182012-02-27T10:24:04.656-05:002012-02-27T10:24:04.656-05:00Last winter a bipartisan advisory panel assembled ...Last winter a bipartisan advisory panel assembled by Rep. Chris Gibson met in Malta to discuss solutions to our local and national energy needs.<br /><br />It was a shame that no one else from Hudson or Greenport took part. But if they had, they'd have known that renewable energy technologies were a constant throughout the discussion. For all of the engineers, nuclear scientists and policy experts gathered - and some very accomplished people among them - renewables were an irreplaceable component of every model discussed. Apparently it was already common knowledge that there will be no substitute for the contributions required by that sector, and every subject discussed was backed up by numbers and graphs. These people were not kidding around.<br /><br />There were "green" industry rep's present, and tax experts who spoke about altering the code to encourage renewables. The Congressman was extremely interested in the latter subject, and was already quite knowledgeable. IMO, this should be encouraged.<br /><br />I came to the panel prepared to scrutinize any sign that nuclear power might be making a comeback to the Hudson River valley.<br /><br />What I was not prepared to find were arguments against the idea by industry technicians themselves.<br /><br />One unapologetic advocate for nuclear power - in fact, a nuclear physicist turned policy advisor - provided a devastating overview of any prospect for locating a nuclear plant in the Hudson Valley anytime soon (as in a century). The critique was based entirely on the numbers.<br /><br />He reviewed nuclear regulatory issues in detail against the certainty that any new plants would rely almost entirely on private investment. After his thorough review, the conclusion he barely had to spell out was that no investor would wait a decade and more navigating the kinds of prohibitive regulations that apply here in order to learn whether his substantial initial outlay might be viable or not. <br /><br />The subject of a possible public outcry was not even an issue in the calculation (though the successful effort to prevent a plant at Smith Landing in the 1970s surely contributed to today's regulatory realities).<br /><br />My point is, for anyone seriously considering defeating new nuclear power plants in New York state, I wouldn't waste any effort preparing a defense for the Hudson River.<br /><br />My own presentation concerned the fragile state of migratory fish in the Hudson, along with a review of the commitment and money society has already spent on the flora and fauna of the river (and it is still not enough!). <br /><br />I reviewed the adverse consequences of heating natural water bodies, and discussed the many hazards of coolant intake structures. <br /><br />I was received with the utmost respect, and even had several nuclear scientists acknowledge that they shared my concerns. I discovered that my presentation was largely unnecessary. <br /><br />Congressman Gibson was a respectful, open-minded listener who asked good questions. Despite my not agreeing with every one of his energy policies as they are now shaping up, I admire his practical mind and its generosity towards the subject matter itself. <br /><br />I thank Gossips for letting me post this. Until now I never found a venue in which to report on my experiences with the energy advisory panel, or anyone who even cared to ask me about it.<br /><br />southbaytaskforce.blogspot.comsouth bay task forcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05907237557662655233noreply@blogger.com