Environmental Impact Statement - radioactive monticello

Appendix A
and largely outdated when it comes to renewable energy literature. The EIS needs to show, for
example, that solar power holds tremendous promise in our region now, as there is increased
PV efficiency, state governmental support, and PV panel costs continue to decline an average
of 5% annually. The argument of land use and solar is incredibly exaggerated, as PV-panels in
urban areas are readily mounted on existing buildings. Solar energy has one of the highest job
intensities per unit of output of any energy technology, and thus has huge benefits to the local
economies that adopt them. In addition to jobs from the contractors that install systems, the
Minnesota economy is projected to benefit from an expanding solar energy manufacturing
industry including growth in such areas as semiconductors, plastic films, electronic equipment,
instrument measuring, switchgear and switchboard apparatus, wiring, storage batteries, sheet
metal, and flat glass. (MS-Y-39)
Response: The GElS is subject to periodic review and update; in 2003, the NRC initiated an
effort to update the GELS. As new information becomes available, the NRC determines
whether it is sufficiently significant to change a position. In Section 8.3 of the GELS, the staff
described the alternative energy technologies and evaluated the environmental impacts of
supply and demand alternatives with the focus of "... the purpose and need of the proposed
action [i.e., to provide an option that allows for power generation capability beyond the term of a
current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs as such
needs may be determined by state, utility, and, where authorized, federal (other than NRC)
decision makers]...." The staff focus is on the power generation capability of a baseload
nuclear power plant. Alternative energy sources will be discussed in Chapter 8 of the SEIS.
Comment: The EIS needs to be sensitive to the issue of C02 reduction. (MS-Y-40)
Response: The comment raises issues related to alternative energy sources, which will be
evaluated in Chapter 8 of the SEIS.
Comment: The EIS needs to present a fair and accurate alternatives analysis..
The energy alternatives need to be discussed in an impartial manner. The generic EIS has a
definite inherent pro-nuclear spin. Could it be because the nuclear power industry has been
given more taxpayer dollars for research and development than any other energy sector
(MS-Y-38)
Response: The comment is outside the scope of license renewal related environmental
impacts. The NRC's regulations in 10 CFR Part 51 require the NRC to consider all reasonable
alternatives to a proposed action as part of its NEPA review. The license renewal review
evaluates a reasonable range of alternatives to supply baseload electric power generation. The
analysis of alternatives to license renewal presented in the GEIS will be supplemented by a
plant-specific alternatives analysis of license renewal at Monticello. The comment fails to
provide any new and significant information, and will not be evaluated further.
NUREG-1437, Supplement 26 A-34 August 2006 1