Questions and concerns about restarting nuclear power generation on Three Mile Island [letter]

About 50 years ago, our area was given the gift and promise of energy too cheap to meter. Huge towers rose on an island in the Susquehanna River, the main tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. The first class of nuclear plants became our neighbor.

Today, our population of farms, towns and businesses cannot return this “gift” — which became the most expensive method to produce electricity.

The costs became evident when the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station’s Unit 2 had a partial nuclear meltdown in 1979. A previously trusting public was exposed to some highly radioactive material as part of the accident.

For decades, the perils this technology brought us, and some of the radioactive waste from the accident, have remained on the island and near our communities.

We who value our heritage and live as stewards of the rich Lancaster County soil question what, if any, risk-benefit assessment was conducted to justify reopening Three Mile Island next year as Crane Clean Energy Center.

What is the rationale behind producing electricity solely to meet the needs of Microsoft facilities in Virginia? Was a site closer to that proposed artificial intelligence plant considered? Last October, the Susquehanna River was a casualty of a severe drought. You could walk across it on the rocks in some places. Where would the 100-million-plus gallons of water needed per day to operate the plant have been secured?

In my view, this is a political gift to one of the country’s largest, most powerful corporations.

But I believe that what will now be called Crane Clean Energy Center, operating on a flood-prone island, will continue to be a threat to our area. We all live downstream!

Patricia J. Longenecker

West Donegal Township