VICTORY!

CALVERT CLIFFS-3 LICENSE DENIED!

March 11, 2013. For the first time in history, NRC Commissioners uphold denial of a construction/operating license for Calvert Cliffs-3. Commission order. NIRS statement on NRC decision.

August 30, 2012. In a historic decision, NRC Licensing Board supports NIRS and denies construction/operating license for Calvert Cliffs-3! Key decision here. NIRS press statement is here. Update, November 1, 2012: UniStar is seeking review of decision by NRC Commissioners, Nuclear Energy Institute filed motion in support. NIRS and NRC staff support the ASLB decision. We will post the Commissioners' decision when filed. However, today the ASLB officially issued an order terminating the Calvert Cliffs-3 licensing proceeding.

The Licensing Board also issued decisions on NIRS' solar and wind contention, and another contention related to Fukushima Task Force issues.

On July 26, 2012, NIRS held a press briefing on the expected Calvert Cliffs-3 decision and its implications for the nuclear industry with Michael Mariotte of NIRS, Bob Eye, attorney for intervenors in the South Texas licensing proceeding, and former NRC Commissioner Peter Bradford. You can listen to the briefing here. Michael Mariotte's opening statement is here.

Timeline of the Calvert Cliffs-3 reactor project and licensing proceeding.

July 26, 2012. Licensing Board decision expected by tomorrow on Calvert Cliffs-3 license application. Experts predict denial of the license. UPDATE, 1 pm: Board delays decision until August 31.

April 18, 2011. NRC Licensing Board issues show cause order to UniStar/NRC staff; says UniStar ineligible to apply for license, implies Board likely to rule in favor of NIRS.

April 8, 2011: NRC staff letter states that UniStar Nuclear is ineligible to receive a Construction/Operating License to build Calvert Cliffs 3 because it violates Atomic Energy Act prohibitions against foreign ownership, control or domination of a U.S. reactor project. NIRS press release.

November 15, 2010: 17 leading arms control experts (who served under Carter, Reagan Clinton & both Bush administrations) urge President Obama not to allow U.S. taxpayer loan guarantees for Electricite de France and Calvert Cliffs-3 unless France changes its non-proliferation policies.

November 4, 2010. The EPR in Crisis. A new report from Steve Thomas of University of Greenwich concludes that EDF/Areva should abandon the EPR reactor design because of its extraordinary costs.

October 9, 2010. NIRS statement on Constellation Energy's decision to end participation in the Calvert Cliffs-3 reactor project.

September 15, 2010. “The nuclear “renaissance” stalls with pending collapse of proposed Calvert Cliffs-3 reactor in Maryland,” article by NIRS executive director Michael Mariotte (updated and condensed from August 5, 2010 posting on DailyKos).

August 25, 2010. Letter from Chesapeake Safe Energy Coalition to Rep. Steny Hoyer detailing current problems with proposed Calvert Cliffs-3 reactor and describing support for it as ill-advised.

June 28, 2010: Intervenors Submit New Challenge to Calvert Cliffs-3 in NRC Licensing Hearing. NIRS Press Release.

June 25, 2010: Intervenors submit new contention in Calvert Cliffs-3 hearing, based on inadequate and faulty analysis of need for power, consideration of alternative energy sources, and costs.

October 13, 2009. NRC Commissioners order hearing on foreign ownership/domination issues in Calvert Cliffs-3 case and uphold rights of people within 50 miles of any reactor to participate in licensing decisions. NRC rejects all arguments from nuclear utility UniStar Nuclear in appeals case.

May 18, 2009: Joint intervenors brief to Maryland Public Service Commission asserting PSC has jurisdiction over Electricite de France investment in Constellation Energy, and full examination of this proposed transaction is necessary.

April 17, 2009: Intervenors Response Brief to UniStar's Appeall in Calvert Cliffs Licenzing Case.

March 2009: The High Cost of Nuclear Power: Why America Should Choose a Clean Energy Future over New Nuclear Reactors, a new report by Maryland PIRG Foundation.

March 2009: Who is Constellation Energy Consorting With? Get to know Electricite de France (EDF) and AREVA

March 2009: At What Cost: Why Maryland Can’t Afford A New Reactor

March 25, 2009: ASLB accepts 3 contentions, orders hearing in Calvert Cliffs-3 licensing proceeding. ASLB Order ; NIRS Press Release.

December 22, 2008: Joint intervenors (NIRS, et al) reply brief to NRC, UniStar defending standing and admissibility of contentions in Calvert Cliffs-3 licensing proceeding.

December 15, 2008: UniStar Nuclear reply brief to Joint Intervenors petition to intervene in Calvert Cliffs-3 license application.

December 15, 2008: NRC staff reply brief to Joint Intervenors petition to intervene in Calvert Cliffs-3 license application.

December 18, 2008: Deal That Could Pave the Way for Four New Nuclear Reactors In the U.S. Is Taxpayer Boondoggle; statement from grassroots groups on UniStar Nuclear/Electricite de France/Constellation Energy buyout arrangement.

November 19, 2008: National and Maryland groups file legal challenge to proposed Calvert Cliffs-3 reactor. Read press release here. Read petition here.

November 19, 2008: Legal motion to hold Calvert Cliffs hearings in abeyance until the Areva EPR reactor design is certified; supports a similar motion made by Texas groups on the ESBWR design. Filed by NIRS, Beyond Nuclear and Public Citizen’s Energy Program.

September 5, 2008: The Brave New World of Nuclear Power Economics, an article by NIRS executive director Michael Mariotte

July 2008: Testimony of David Schlissel, Synapse Energy Economics, before the Maryland Public Service Commission, on the extraordinarily high cost estimates for new nuclear reactors. While this was prepared for hearings on the proposed Calvert Cliffs EPR, most of this testimony will be useful to anyone looking at nuclear power economics for any proposed reactor.

August 12 public meeting in Baltimore sponsored by Chesapeake Safe Energy Coalition: let your voice be heard to Maryland Public Service Commission on the proposed new reactor at Calvert Cliffs. More info and link to RSVP here.

July 17, 2008: Powering Maryland’s Future, a new report from Maryland PIRG, shows that the proposed Calvert Cliffs-3 reactor would be too slow and too expensive to meet Maryland’s electricity needs, which can be generated more safely, cleanly, faster and cheaper from renewable energy sources and an aggressive energy efficiency program. Every state should have a report like this one!

June 2008: New Greenpeace International factsheet on numerous problems with Areva’s European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), which is being proposed for Calvert Cliffs, MD and other sites in the U.S.

June 2008: New Greenpeace International factsheet on construction problems with Areva’s EPR at Flamenville, France.

April 11, 2008: EIS scoping comments from Chesapeake Safe Energy Coalition on proposed Calvert Cliffs-3 reactor.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a scoping meeting on the Environmental Impact Statement for Calvert Cliffs on March 19, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Select located at 155 Holiday Drive, Solomons, Maryland. This is your chance to come out and let your voice be heard! NRC notice.

Unistar/Constellation Energy has submitted a partial application to build a third reactor at the site of two existing Calvert Cliffs reactors on the Chesapeake Bay in southern Maryland. This would be a 1600 Megawatt Evolutionary Power Reactor (also known as European Pressurized Reactor) designed by the French company Areva. Electricite de France, the French utility, would be a minority partner in the project.

A coalition of organizations has formed the Chesapeake Safe Energy Coalition to challenge this project. In addition, NIRS and Maryland PIRG have intervened before the Maryland Public Service Commission proceeding on this project. You can find out more on the Coalition website.

You can obtain a copy of the partial application here. 

NIRS’ statement on the initial filing of the Calvert Cliffs reactor application can be read here.

May 2006: Operational Risks and Hazards of the EPR when Subject to Aircraft Crash, a report by John Large and Associates examines a leaked document from Electricite de France that indicates the EPR reactor design (proposed for Calvert Cliffs and other sites) can not withstand an aircraft crash.