By: Charles Slat story updated February 16. 2008 10:33PM

The utility still is engaged in a study that might lead to construction of a new nuclear power plant it says will be needed to meet future power demands.

Though Michigan's economy is sputtering, DTE Energy is continuing to plan for a new nuclear power plant near its existing Fermi 2 reactor near Newport, encouraged by federal energy policy and persuaded that electricity demand will grow.

"We are still on target to submit an application by the end of this year," said John J. Austerberry, a DTE spokesman. "Work is continuing to prepare the application, but we cannot commit to moving ahead until the regulatory issues are addressed at the state."

DTE and other utilities are lobbying the state Legislature to change Michigan's so-called "Customer Choice" laws that have allowed some larger electrical users to shop around for the cheapest electricity.

Meanwhile, federal policy continues to encourage the development of nuclear power plants, seen by some as a cleaner alternative to coal-burning power plants.

Mr. Austerberry said DTE anticipates applying for a federal license to build a plant of about 1,500 megawatts. The Fermi 2 plant is about 1,100 megawatts.

more of this article at:

http://www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/NEWS01/885482283

New construction of a utiility means hundreds of jobs in Monroe county. Thousands of construction workers, then hundreds of full-timers (educated, college-grad fulltimers) running the plant. It would offset the inevitable collapse of the auto industry.

This is a Good Thing.

I think that this is, potentially, a good thing.

Nuclear power is cleaner than coal and natural gas.  It is an absolute necessity, along with solar, wind, geothermal and biomass.  We need almost everything except oil and coal.

It's good for the county tax base and workforce.

However, DTE has a BIG footprint in Monroe's most important region - the lakefront.  As this plant goes through the planning states, I would hope that local authorities would use the leverage of the planning process to open more DTE-controlled lakeshore areas to public use and greater environmental sensibility.

I mean, Monroe can't really become a vacation place or "green" spot with either of those plants on the shore.  Why not get more and better recreation and natural space to compensate?

A little late to start thinking about the lakefront. What we have is going to stay, or grow. We have to take the jobs and tax base that will come from another plant. Due to the nature of the power plants, security will get tighter, not less stringent. I would love to hunt or fish near some of DTE's property, but all they will allow is their little fishing site on the Raisin River. Thirty years ago there was terriffic duck hunting near Fermi, but don't try to get close these days.

I don't believe that a Fermi expansion would take up anymore shoreline as I think they have gone as far as they can go.  The Fermi site has been recognized for its wildlife habitat.  A good percentage of Monroe's Lake Erie coastline is controlled either by private individuals or associations.  The only way to expand this resource would be to "liberate" it from its owners.  This control of the lakefront has been in this state for years when the beach areas were all private associations and about the only public access for swimming, etc, was Sterling State Park.

Any commercial power plant needs access to water.  Nuclear, coal, or gas.  I suppose that wind or solar would not need much on the way of water.  The biggest problem I see with wind is the amount of towers that would be needed to match the output of a fossil or nuclear power plant.  The other alternative is to reduce consumption.  Throw out your computer, TV, and air conditioner.  I don't see that happening.  I really think that if wind or solar were feasible around here, the power companies would be stumbling over themselve to build.  It's no picnic for them with all the regulations for fossil and nuclear plants.  One thing these plants do bring is a pretty large tax base and good paying jobs.

    
Re: DTE moving ahead with Fermi 3 plant... (is this good, bad, ugly???)
« Reply #11 on: Today at 09:58:50 PM »
   
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Actually, I could be wrong, but I don't think Fermi supplies Monroe... I think it supplies some other region, due to the jerry-rigged nature of our national power grid.

in any case, last I heard about a new power plant being built it was going to be built right next door to Fermi 2, so it wouldn't take up that much more space...

Ok.
So we should build Fermi 3 to send power to another region?

As long as it brings jobs to the area..that's what counts.  I think this is why DTE and the college implemented a brand new program just for DTE.  It's a wonderful opportunity for an education and a long term well paid profession.