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Region needs to hear both sides
Editor, OBSERVER:
Thank you kindly Paul Somerfeldt, for standing up at a recent Dunkirk Economic Development meeting.
Until now, we have been hearing from boosters of nuclear reactors and data centers.
Those private companies have a clear agenda:
-- Purchase relatively inexpensive land.
-- Use a large body of water for heat load transfer.See: http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2019/ph241/clark1/.
-- Take tax benefits which we pay to the state.
-- Sell energy to large urban areas.
-- Gain short term profits.
There are reasons no one else wants them:
-- They have no local stakes.
-- They disrespect cash-strapped communities, expecting little push-back.
-- They lobby for de-regulation.
-- They want to quickly off-load a soon-to-be outdated generation of nuclear reactors and data centers -- because they are under intense pressure to improve.
-- They do not produce material jobs.
-- They are massively destructive to the environment.
-- There is a real risk of accident.
No, we are not grateful for the crumbs being tossed at us.
No one wants to live near nuclear reactors or data centers.
Instead, let’s manage what we want.
Our unique part of the world has great value.
Can we create a statement of purpose for beneficial local development, and find people who are ready, willing and able to execute it? Yes.
Let’s roll up our shirt sleeves and manage for what we want.
PAMELA RUIS,
Fredonia