PIKETON, OH - Representatives from the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) completed a visit to the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site on May 20, a tour met with skepticism and renewed concerns from local residents firmly against the proposed re-nuclearization and expansion of industrial energy production at the beleaguered site.
The visit, confirmed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management, highlights international interest in what some see as a dangerous continuation of the site's problematic past, rather than a path to genuine revitalization. The FEPC, a powerful lobby for nuclear power in Japan, appears to be exploring technologies that many in the community view as too risky, too costly, and fundamentally unnecessary.
Officials have not stated what the trip was regarding or what interest the FEPC has in Piketon.
Local opposition groups emphasize that the proposed projects at Piketon offer dubious economic benefits while imposing unacceptable environmental and safety risks. They argue that the focus should remain solely on complete and effective cleanup, followed by truly sustainable and clean redevelopment that does not involve hazardous industries or experimental technologies.
Currently, there are plans to build a hydrogen production facility, two experimental small modular nuclear reactors, and full-scale commercial uranium enrichment.
As the cleanup of a decades-old environmental nightmare continues at the site, which has already drained vast taxpayer sums, the push for new, controversial energy ventures only deepens local frustration. The international visit, while perhaps perceived as a vote of confidence by proponents, serves primarily as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle between community safety and persistent efforts to re-industrialize the site with potentially dangerous technologies.
Add comment
Comments