Northwest power gamble: Washington utilities go for broke on nuclear; region's citizens make conservation bid

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981 · Power Line; (United States)

OSTI ID:5556479

Brummer, J

The Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) is asking for a reactor construction moratorium in an effort to get fast relief from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which is authorized to guarantee power purchases from new power plants. Supporters of nuclear power plants as well as those of the soft energy path are watching to see how BPA will handle its mandate against acquiring new thermal plants until conservation and renewable energy potentials are exhausted. BPA can subvert the Pacific Northwest Power Act with 20-year contracts based on conventional forecasts despite evidence that new plants are unneeded. There is also evidence that the public rejects the idea of a moral obligation to bail out nuclear power cost overruns at taxpayer expense. The negotiations involve not only WPPSS and BPA, but Moody's Investor Service and environmental groups. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 5556479
• Journal Information: Power Line; (United States), Vol. 6:12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
FINANCING
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION
INTERVENORS
INVESTMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
296000* - Energy Planning & Policy- Electric Power
210801 - Nuclear Power Plants- Economics- Construction & Operation- (-1987)