Environmental Impact Statement - radioactive monticello

gasification generation balanced against continuation of Monticello nuclear generation and
construction and operation of Mesaba elsewhere. -
Comment 6: The EIS must consider system wide distributed, renewable generation as a
reasonable alternative to Monticello.
Appendix A
Rationale for Comments 3, 4, 5 and 6: Rationale: Xcel claims it needs generation and that it
should rely on coal and nuclear. The coal gasification option was mandated by the legislature,
yet because of the market realities of high electrical availability, a power contract was also
mandated. Because of these mandates, Mesaba should be analyzed as the first replacement
option for nuclear power. Monticello relicensing is before us right now, and the Mesaba
application to the EQB is imminent. (MS-V-3)
Comment: Comment 7: The NRC must evaluate, as reasonable alternatives, combinations of
different intermittent generation, such as wind with gas and/or biomass, to give capacity
equivalent to capacity percentages of "baseload" coal and nuclear.
Rationale for Comment 7: Xcel unreasonably relies exclusively on coal and nuclear when
combinations of other fuel options could provide generation equal to, for example, the 70% or
so availability of Monticello (40% wind plus just 30% gas = 70% capacity! See, that wasn't so.
hard.). (MS-V-4)
Comment: We would also suggest that alternatives to continued operations at the Monticello
facility be properly evaluated, particularly part 5 titled "Systemwide Renewable, distributed
generation" which could include the construction of wind farms, solar farms, or other renewable
energy sources where the fuel is present locally and the method of generation not inherently
dangerous. The # four option of "Wind and Gas" would also be a much more benign scenario
to continued operations and infinitely long storage of nuclear waste on-site. (MS-X-3)
Comment: WHEREAS, replacement of the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant would result in
an electric rate increase and significantly increased emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen
oxides, and sulfur dioxide. (MS-AA-4)
Comment: WHEREAS, replacement of the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant would result in
an electric rate increase and significant increased emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides
and sulfur dioxide... (MS-AC-4; MS-AD-5)
Response: The comments are related to the environmental impacts of alternatives to license
renewal at Monticello. The GElS included a discussion of alternative energy sources.
Environmental impacts associated with various reasonable alternatives to renewal of the
Monticello operating license will be evaluated in Chapter 8 of the SEIS.
Comment: The latest scientific evidence needs to be researched and referenced. The
references of the generic EIS are testimony that the document is at the minimum 11 years old
August 2006 A-33 NUREG-1437, Supplement 26 I