Idaho Welcomes New Uranium Enrichment Plant

[Judi Lynn]

Idaho Welcomes New Uranium Enrichment Plant
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho, August 1, 2008 - The French company AREVA plans to build a $2 billion uranium enrichment plant in eastern Idaho to serve the nuclear power industry, its first such facility in the United States.

Idaho state officials are jubilant, having courted the company with tax incentives.

Alluding to eastern Idaho's long experience with nuclear power through the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter said in a statement, "It's a great match that will result in secure jobs and a stronger economy."

Michael McMurphy, President of AREVA Inc., agreed. "While we had several attractive sites to choose from, we opted for Idaho Falls, which has strong ties to nuclear energy and which welcomed AREVA and its proposed enrichment facility," McMurphy said.

The Snake River Alliance, a nuclear watchdog and clean energy advocacy group, has opposed the construction of an enrichment plant since it learned about Areva's intentions in January. Although the alliance is based in Idaho, it is not the location that the group objects to.

"It wouldn't matter if Areva had chosen any of the other four sites it was considering for this plant; we would oppose it no matter where Areva planned to build," said Snake River Alliance Executive Director Andrea Shipley. "We oppose expanding uranium enrichment wherever it occurs. It is premised on expanding nuclear power, which is an expensive and dirty power source."

More:
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2008/2008-08-01-091.asp