Alternate Energy Holdings (fka AEHI)

[SAE]

Citizens Question Nuke Plant in Payette

Payette, Idaho – On Monday, about 100 residents of Payette County -- along with many others from throughout the Treasure Valley -- heard compelling testimony for and against building a new nuclear power plant near Payette.

The gathering took place at Payette High School in front of the Payette County Board of Commissioners.

Representatives from Alternate Energy Holdings Incorporated (AEHI) asked the board for permission to rezone several parcels of land in rural Payette County to accommodate a future nuclear site.

The company, based out of Eagle, has worked in the area for about 2 years and wants to build up to a 400 megawatt, dual nuclear reactor power plant.

The plant would be the first nuclear plant built in the United States in over 30 years.

AEHI spokesman Dan Hamilton says the project would provide cheap power for the entire state of Idaho, and could create up to 5,000 construction jobs along with about 1,000 long-term jobs after construction is completed.

The estimated operational date is sometime in 2018.

Reaction from those at the meeting was varied. KTRV Channel 12 asked 12 random citizens at the meeting if they "agreed with AEHI's plan" or were "against it."

Eleven out of 12 were against AEHI's plans.

Jeff Weber, who lives about three miles from the proposed development site, told KTRV that he believes the community does not support the project.

Weber said that he believes AEHI company executives are "crooks" and said "none of my neighbors support it," referring to the project.

However, that's not the data AEHI claims. AEHI says it recorded a 60 percent support rate for the nuclear project from the testimony of those who spoke at Monday's meeting.

According Hamilton, the majority of people in Payette County, it seems, are excitedly waiting for that date to come because they support what the project would bring to the community.

"The support level has been in the area of 70 percent at the lowest, at the highest, 80 to 90 percent," Hamilton said, describing the support he sees among residents in the Payette area.

Hamilton says AEHI representatives have now submitted business details in at least four hearings in front of various county boards, culminating in Monday's community hearing in front of the Board of County Commissioners.

AEHI representatives who testified during the evening hearing unveiled new details regarding possible nuclear reactor designs, discussed the viability of various cooling options, and highlighted the safety of their proposed nuclear power in what is now thought of as a post-Fukushima world.

"So yeah, this is a big deal to us," Hamilton said.

However, critics, including the Snake River Alliance -- who bill themselves as "Idaho's Nuclear Watchdogs" -- say AEHI's plans are flawed and the company hasn't been honest with area residents.

"This is a company that has got some serious problems," said Ken Miller, Snake River Alliance Clean Energy chairman.

KTRV spoke with Miller at the Snake River Alliance Offices in Boise.

"They've been knocking around southwest Idaho for about 4 years. They've tried Owyhee County, and that didn't work, they tried Elmore County and that didn't work, and here we are in Payette County," Miller said.

Miller is referring to AEHI's history of planning -- then giving up -- other nuclear plant proposals in those counties, sometimes due to unsuitable site plans, other times due to negative response from the community.

Miller also points to a ongoing lawsuit filed against AEHI by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) alleging the company used investor money to buy lavish gifts for executives, including luxury cars and cruises.

Miller says that lawsuit alone should cast a negative shadow of doubt over the viability of AEHI.

"We're not talking about building a Walmart over there," Miller added. "This is a nuclear reactor we're talking about, and it has potentially huge consequences."

The Payette Board of County Commissioners is expected to reconvene and make its decision to allow AEHI access to county land in the next few weeks.

http://www.ktrv.com/story/14850862/do-payette-citizens-really-support-nuke-plant