As San Antonio Considers Nuclear Expansion, CASEnergy Highlights Job Growth Potential, Boost to Local Economies and Environmental Impact of Carbon Free Energy in Texas
As CPS Energy considers adding two new reactors to its jointly-owned South Texas Project (STP) site, CASEnergy Co-Chair Dr. Patrick Moore visited the Lone Star State on September 15 and 16 to help tout the many clean energy and economic advantages of nuclear energy.
The centerpiece of the trip was a panel discussion hosted by the San Antonio Clean Technology Forum. Dr. Moore was able to further capitalize on his time in Texas by also attending several meetings with influencer groups and sitting down with a number of top-tier media outlets in both Houston and San Antonio.
In a luncheon debate hosted by the San Antonio Clean Technology Forum, Dr. Moore spoke in favor of the expansion of the South Texas Project as CPS Energy – owned by the city of San Antonio – prepares to make its decision at the end of September on whether or not to move forward with two new reactors at STP. Joining Dr. Moore on the panel in support of the expansion was Steve Bartley, Interim General Manager at CPS Energy, while two voices opposing the expansion represented the other side of the debate: Dr. Arjun Makhijani, President of the Institute for Energy and the Environment, and Craig Severance, author of Business Risks & Costs of New Nuclear Power. The discussion centered on the cost of nuclear expansion and the viability of other alternative energy sources, include solar and wind. Dr. Moore made a compelling case for nuclear as a clean and safe source of energy which creates high paying jobs and will attract businesses to the local community seeking a cost-efficient energy base.
Prior to the lunch-time forum, Dr. Moore and his fellow panelists met with the editorial board of the San Antonio Express-News, the third largest daily newspaper in Texas. The Express-News has extensively covered the nuclear debate and published a piece, “Energy Leaders to debate nuke issue in S.A,” on Tuesday promoting the Forum. Following the event, the Express-News provided a recap of the debate – featured prominently on the Web site’s homepage – that deconstructed each of the arguments focused on the costs associated with the possible expansion STP, noting that either outcome will have a critical impact on San Antonio’s economic future.
In conjunction with Dr. Moore’s participation in the San Antonio debate, CASEnergy placed an op-ed by Dr. Moore in the San Antonio Express-News. Dr. Moore’s piece, “Nuclear investment part of a viable energy portfolio,” underscored nuclear’s clean energy advantages, as well as its cost-efficiency and job-creation potential, further reinforcing the economic advantages of nuclear expansion.
Dr. Moore was also in Houston this week, where he met with key energy and business reporters with Dow Jones, Houston public radio (KUHF), and the Houston Chronicle, as well as the Chronicle’s Editorial Board. In his interview with KUHF, Houston’s top business radio, Dr. talked about why nuclear power is a worthwhile investment – while it may have a higher upfront cost, nuclear ultimately offers long-term savings. “It’s a bit like a compact fluorescent light bulb compared to a normal incandescent bulb. They cost five times as much, so why would you buy one? Well, because it only uses a quarter of the energy and last four times as long. And the same is true of nuclear power.”
At the Houston Chronicle, the largest daily newspaper in Texas, Dr. Moore met first with their energy business reporter, Tom Fowler, then participated in a larger discussion with their Editorial Board. Following the meeting, Fowler posted a piece, “A nuclear evangelist tours Texas,” to his energy blog, NewsWatch: Energy.