Upgrades lessen local nuke risk (Omaha, publicly owned Fort Calhoun)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110316/NEWS01/703169801#oppd-no-reason-to-fear-plant

Published Wednesday March 16, 2011

By Nancy Gaarder
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Photo: http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20110316&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=703169801&Ref=AR&maxw=490&maxh=275

Nuclear officials in Washington and Nebraska said Wednesday that there's no need to shut down the nation's pre-1980s nuclear power plants, even though Germany is doing so in the wake of the crisis in Japan.

Both of Nebraska's nuclear plants opened in the 1970s. But officials of the utilities that operate the plants said both plants are safe and their emergency plans are stringent.

Gary Gates, president and CEO of the Omaha Public Power District, said metro-area residents can have confidence in the level of preparedness at OPPD's Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station. OPPD has trained for years to handle a disaster that exceeds the plant's designed capabilities, he said.

“We will protect the health and safety of the public and the OPPD employees who work there,” Gates said.

John McClure, interim president and CEO at Nebraska Public Power District, said people living around its Cooper Nuclear Station near Brownville “should feel safe.”

FULL story at link.

[kristopher]

1. What would you expect them to say, "Screw the ratepayers and stockholders!" ?

"officials of the utilities that operate the plants said both plants are safe and their emergency plans are stringent."