The former nuclear power plant at the Duane Arnold Energy Center in 2003. (The Gazette)
Windmills are so common in Iowa that they are featured on our state license plates and cement the identity of the windmill in our community and in a mental image of the Iowa plains. Solar collectors are also being used more and more frequently, as they can efficiently supply houses and farms with large roofs with small energy sources to accommodate the collectors.
The idea of the solar farm fits into our state ethos as America’s manufacturer and supplier. Iowa farmers feed the world and our ethanol corn provides energy to the country. It seems like a natural next step to venture into this new phase of agriculture. But even if these initiatives for clean energy are exciting, an important piece of the puzzle is missing in our state – nuclear power.
Nuclear power plants accounted for 9 percent of total U.S. generating capacity in 2019, but produced 20 percent of the country’s electricity due to their reliable power generation. Iowa had only one functioning nuclear reactor until recently, housed in a large building in Palo and employing about 600 people.
Duane Arnold opened in 1974. A larger plant in Vandalia, as well as other locations, were tentatively planned, but many plans were abandoned due to the cost, perceived risk and fear of radiation.
The plant manager cited the inability of the small plant to keep up with cheaper energy and the cost of damage caused by the derecho as reasons for the closure. It’s worth noting that there are significant tax incentives for individuals and businesses to install wind turbines and solar panels.
This decommissioned nuclear site will be the site of a large NextEra Energy solar park covering 3,500 acres in Palo. The new solar project is expected to generate $ 700 million, $ 41.6 million in tax revenue and around 300 construction jobs.
Let’s compare the performance potential of wind turbines, the most popular clean energy source in our state, with nuclear power: Since 2005, an average of 3,000 turbines have been built in the US every year. There are currently 68,792 turbines in the USA with a total nominal output of 121,431 megawatts. Nuclear energy has by far the highest capacity factor of all other energy sources. Essentially, this means that nuclear power plants produce maximum output more than 93 percent of the time each year. According to the Ministry of Energy, this is around 2.5 to 3.5 times more reliable than wind and solar systems.
This reliability is important because renewable power plants are considered to be intermittent or variable sources and are mostly limited by a lack of fuel, which means that sometimes the sun is not shining or the wind is not very strong. In the future, power plants are likely to be built with a renewable energy source and a reliable energy source such as coal or nuclear power.
Duane Arnold is located near the boundaries of Benton and Linn Counties. Following the announcement of the plant closure, an article appeared in the Des Moines Register claiming that there was finally hope for Iower to have “less cancer” in our communities.
Although I disagreed with the solemn tone of the article regarding the plant closure, the numbers presented painted a frightening narrative that seems quite alarming at first.
The author stated, “In Benton and Linn Counties … cancer rates in children 19 years of age and younger prior to Duane Arnold’s surgery were 7% higher than Iowa rates.” Linn County’s childhood cancer rate is 20% higher than the state’s. … Linn Counties under 50 who lived near Duane Arnold most or all of their lives had cancer rates 15 percent higher than the state. “
If we take a closer look at these numbers, we can see that Benton County is actually in the lower half of Iowa County’s cancer incidence rate, and Linn County’s cancer incidence rate is about mid-table. Palo Alto County, hours north of the nuclear power plant town, has the highest cancer incidence rate in the state and the county has never had a nuclear power plant.
Linn County is the state’s second largest country and has easy access to cancer screening facilities. Similar to COVID tests, the more we look for something, the more of this disease we will uncover.
It’s good to localize and identify cancer for treatment, of course, but it’s worth noting that people who live (relatively) close to a nuclear power plant are more likely to be tested for cancer despite not having significant radiation exposure due to the perceived radiation hazard are exposed.
In addition, there is evidence that higher background radiation is associated with a slightly longer life expectancy, according to a study by scientists from the BGU and the Negev Nuclear Research Center. Background radiation is ionizing radiation that is present in the environment from natural sources. It includes radiation from space and radiation from earth-based sources. With higher background radiation, life expectancy even increased. This seems nonsensical to the information we get from TV shows and movies about radiation exposure, but it follows the fledgling science of nuclear radiation.
Of course, this does not mean that people were not seriously injured by radiation exposure from living near nuclear power plants who disregard safety measures. However, there is solid evidence that living near a modern, well-monitored nuclear power plant does not have a negative impact on surrounding communities.
Power generation is a collaborative and diverse field that is increasingly tailored to the needs of the community. Putting solar panels on residential buildings, traffic lights, and homes is a smart way to harness solar energy, but using farmland in Iowa comes at a high opportunity cost, considering the area is more for food production than the more unpredictable Solar energy could be used warehouse.
It is foolish to create fear of nuclear power and romanticize inefficient wind and solar energy for large-scale use without other reliable sources. Individuals with a vested financial interest in producing and financing lower risk power generation are not reliable sources for Iowa energy planning. We have to follow science and lead with logic instead of fear of innovation.
Patricia Patnode is an editorial member of the Gazette. Comments: [email protected]
Comments are closed.