WHAS11 News reiterates the 7-year project based in southern Indiana, which was accompanied by a lot of controversy and high costs.
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – Construction began in 1978 after plans for a nuclear power plant near Madison, Indiana were announced three years earlier.
The Marble Hill project quickly met resistance as local anti-nuclear groups held demonstrations near the site.
Demonstrators simulated a nuclear power plant disaster and lay down in front of the PSI headquarters.
They were prepared for the visit of the demonstrators with security forces who were alerted by the local level to the state police.
The clear opposition, just an obstacle to further construction on Marble Hill. “
“The Nuclear Supervision Commission is now investigating whether 170 improper repairs were made deliberately,” said an original report.
Workers within the plant reported faulty repair work and dangerous concrete work, and inspectors began monitoring the site around the clock to improve practices.
“When we were allowed to tour Marble Hill two weeks ago, we saw a huge honeycomb that was being repaired.”
“A University of Louisville engineer said honeycomb construction is extremely dangerous, especially in power plants.”
After a year and a half delay, the inspectors said construction could safely resume. As development went on, financial problems and public concern also increased.
“Two, four, six, eight, we don’t want to shine,” chanted several hundred demonstrators as they marched through the countryside.
Many of them disagreed with the construction, saying their only option was civil disobedience.
“Nuclear power is dangerous for all living things in their natural environment,” said one protester.
They wanted an immediate halt to construction on the plant, which was still years away from the expected completion date. The demonstrators spread out armed with ladders.
The leaders appointed 80 people to climb over the fences. Inside they fell to their knees and symbolically planted small peach trees. The location was a former peach garden.
Then they set off and didn’t get far until the sheriff’s deputies caught up with the crew. Police said that day they had arrested 89 people without little resistance.
Two years later, construction came to a standstill again.
A safety inspector cited electrical work, and at that point the cost of completing the project was up to $ 6 billion, more than four times the original estimate.
Then the governor stepped in and set up a task force to look into future plans. In 1983 this group prepared their report just before Christmas.
“It is his recommendation that the marble mound currently under construction by the Public Service Company of Indiana not be completed.”
The task force finally decided that the construction costs were too high and that the energy was not really needed.
“The PSI Board of Directors will meet next month to review the Task Force’s recommendation and decide whether to close or look for an alternative form of financing to keep construction going.”
But later that year, the builder laid off more than 5,000 workers and ordered that work at Marble Hill be stopped.
“Hundreds have already raised stakes looking for another job in another city.”
A local newspaper, The Madison Courier, offered free job ads and said more than 100 workers accepted them.
It was the end of the Marble Hill era, although it would be many years before the impact subsided and Marble Hill was just a memory.
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What was built on the property remained untouched for about 20 years before demolition began in 2008.
Since then, most of the Marble Hill structures have been demolished and scrapped.
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