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Monday, February 28, 2011

Ind. Law - "Bailly activists weigh in on nuclear bill "

People who don't live in NW Indiana may not remember the proposed Bailly Nuclear Power Plant in Porter County, proposed to be built right on the shore of Lake Michigan - plans were halted in 1981. This was before the Marble Hill closure, where construction was well underway when it was canceled in 1984.

Diane Krieger Spivak of the Gary Post-Tribune has a really interesting, long story today, at least to those of us who grew up two miles from the proposed Bailly site, on pending SB 251 and the newly-energized Bailly proponents and opponents. The story begins:

Those who fought both for and against NIPSCO’s failed proposal to build the $1.8 billion Bailly Nuclear 1 Power Plant in Porter County during the 1970s and 1980s have weighed in on a bill, slated to go before the Indiana House this week, that promises incentives to utilities to build Indiana’s first nuclear power plants.

Authors of Senate Bill 251, which passed the Senate on Wednesday and moves to the House on Monday, say it would allow the state to provide enough power for its future needs. Opponents say it will encourage the pursuit of high-risk energy, such as nuclear power, as well as immediately impose the cost of those pursuits on rate payers.

A great old photo from 1979 shows where the nuclear plant was to be sited, pointing out that: "The pilings in the sand to the left of the old plant would have provided the foundation."

For background, start with this ILB entry from Feb. 11, 2011.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 28, 2011 10:33 AM
Posted to Indiana Law