Pueblo County residents spar on proposed nuclear power plant - Pueblo Chieftain

Pueblo County residents spar on proposed nuclear power plant

County commissioners hosted a town hall on nuclear power. Here's what Puebloans had to say
James Bartolo

A town hall discussing a potential nuclear replacement for the closing Comanche 3 coal plant drew hundreds of Puebloans to the Sangre De Cristo Arts and Conference Center on Thursday.

The meeting was hosted and moderated by Pueblo County commissioners, who were joined by Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham. Members of the Pueblo Innovative Energy Solutions Advisory Committee (PIESAC), a committee of leaders that recommends bringing an advanced nuclear plant to Pueblo to replace Comanche 3, also attended.

PIESAC member and Action 22 President Sara Blackhurst told attendees that Pueblo is making a great sacrifice by closing Comanche 3. She said advanced nuclear is the most efficient way to replenish the $11 million loss in total salaries and the 16.1% loss in Pueblo County property tax revenue.

"(Advanced nuclear) will more than make Pueblo whole and this is a clear path to make Pueblo prosperous," Blackhurst said.

However, opponents of nuclear energy generation continued to voice opposition to PIESAC's recommendation Thursday night. Activists arrived early to protest outside the arts center. Later that evening, 16 of the 21 individuals to comment during the town hall's public comment portion explicitly opposed nuclear in Pueblo.

Dr. Velma Campbell, an opponent of nuclear, told the Chieftain she is thankful that commissioners gave citizens like her a platform to voice their concerns. She said former commissioners and PIESAC have actively excluded those with concerns from past discussions.

"The opportunity for community members to be openly engaged in the discussion of not just nuclear power but future economic development for our county is long overdue," Campbell said.

Erick Javaneau, one of several nuclear opponents to comment Thursday night, raised concerns about a nuclear power plant making Pueblo a "cancer cluster." He cited a study from the National Institute of Health that found children living near a nuclear facility had an over 60% increased incidence of cancer.

Barbara Burch, another member of the public, referenced the United Nations' ongoing concerns about the security of a Ukrainian nuclear facility and the recent shutdown of a nuclear weapons facility threatened by Texas wildfires.

Other arguments against a nuclear power plant in Pueblo included that a nuclear facility would make Pueblo vulnerable to terrorist attacks, would be too expensive, and could not feasibly be built in time.

While opponents of nuclear showed up in droves, proponents also made their presence known. About 100 attendees wore neon green T-shirts with the slogan "We Support Modern Nuclear Energy" and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers logo.

Josh Bruggeman, a Comanche station employee, was among those wearing a green T-shirt. He told town hall attendees that there may be safety concerns and hazards associated with any energy source, but workers in the energy sector undergo extensive training.

"(Comanche 3 closing) directly affects me," Bruggeman said. "Come 2031, I have no job as is. When we talk about jobs potentially being temporary, I am living that right now."

Rick Allen of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry (UA) told the Chieftain he believes the latest advanced nuclear technology is safe and will provide much-needed jobs to Puebloans.

"I recommended people go to YouTube and look at the Illinois professor (David Ruzic) and just watch his videos," he said. "I think people need to educate themselves, because I think if you educate yourself on the small modular reactors, you'll find out they're actually pretty safe."

None of the Pueblo County commissioners nor Mayor Graham took a stance for or against advanced nuclear on Thursday night. County commissioners will continue to engage community members in future town hall discussions at dates to be announced, Commissioner Zach Swearingen said.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.