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Show . J ( .$ . A -. y ; . . ' - ' .- . . . j)?' ' ' " '? i a L ' ' . . Members of Utah's eighteen member Energy council public hearing on the proposed impact study to be take questions from the floor during Tuesday night's conducted in Green River. . """r:--- id ' -7 -: . .... Am. , , ' By a show of hands, local residents of the Green River but the voting did not reflect any interest a' V-' area showed their support for the go-ahead on the study proposed cluster of reactors planned for the V : Green River meeting considers power plants About 100 people were present at a public meeting meet-ing in Green River Tues. night to discuss a proposed pro-posed study on the potential potent-ial impact of an "energy park" in the Green River area. Representatives of the Utah Energy Council were on hand to present criteria for a study, receive local input on whether a study was wanted, and answer questions. They are scheduled sche-duled to report the results of the meeting to Governor Gover-nor Scott Matheson on . April 4. As outlined by Roger Margo, co-chairman of the Utah Energy Council, the questions resolved by a study would include: possible alternatives to nuclear power, such as oil shale; methods for cooling nuclear plants, i.e. the cheaper wet method or the expensive dry method; problems with subsidies and tax credits: how Utah would be paid; how an energy center could be financed; what the impact would be on coal development; develop-ment; what to do with nuclear waste; possible markets for the power and, most importantly, how to guarantee public participation in the whole affair. Questions of safety were raised by several citizens of the area, as well as concern that the study would lead to the actual construction of a nuclear plant. They were assured that a study would not necessarily lead to construction. The Council agreed on the need for concern over the safety of nuclear power pow-er plants. It was noted that the study could be incorporated into a national nation-al energy plan and that the government has proposed pro-posed building 130, 1,000 megawatt plants, nuclear or otherwise, by the year 1990. A question was asked on the current development develop-ment of solar power, and the Council responded that the Department of Energy is already funding the construction of a $3 million solar plant for power at Natural Bridges National Monument, and that Utah is working with other states in the region to develop solar power. Cost of the Green River impact study would be about SI million, said the Council, with half those funds coming from the federal government and the rest to be matched by the state. It would take two years to complete. The Council also discussed discus-sed some ramifications should it be decided after the study is completed to go ahead with construction construc-tion of power plants in the area. During construction of the proposed "energy park." totaling from 10 to 15, 1,000 megawatt units, about 20,000 workers would be employed, traveling trav-eling an average of 50 miles to work. Employment needed to operate the plants would be about 4,000, it was projected. Cost of construction con-struction of a cluster of plants was estimated at $10 billion. Those present were assured that a plan would be implemented to prevent sudden boom and collapse of the labor pool at the end of the construction construc-tion period. Why Green River? was a question asked. The Council responded that the Western Interstate U-tilities U-tilities Board had made a study of which areas might have favorable conditions con-ditions for nuclear construction, con-struction, with the criteria being water availability, seismic conditions and remoteness re-moteness from densely populated areas. Some of the people present expressed a doubt as to the need for a study to be conducted in the first place, and there was a concern among some of the Moab residents present pres-ent that perhaps Moab was not being properly briefed on the whole idea. They asked if a public meeting on the subject could be conducted in Moab. The Council indicated indica-ted that because they are due to report by April 4, time wouldn't allow such a meeting. Residents of the Green River area were asked to raise their hands if they were for or against the study, with objections being be-ing heard from some resi dents of Moab, as well as a few from Green River. All 3 Salt Lake television stations swung their cameras cam-eras around to get an overall view of the voting. The final vote, with all hands being counted, was about two-thirds for the study, and about 10 a-gainst a-gainst it, with hands going up and down during the counting. Green River City Ci-ty representatives voiced their support of the study. Council members stres sed that any inters parties could contact"-."-by writing Utah Council, 455 E. 4th Sa " --Rm. --Rm. 303, Salt Laie (J -' -Utah 84111, or by ca them on their tc'"" line. 1 -800-662-3633" jVj |