- Social:
San Clemente Green
Co-founder of San Clemente Green, a local grassroots organization working to address safety problems at the San Onofre reactors and other environmental issues in the area
PROFILE
Gary Headrick
Guest
FROM Gary Headrick
Which Way, L.A.?
The Shutdown of San Onofre and California's Energy Future The nuclear power reactors at San Onofre generated power off and on for 40 years, until they were shut down a year ago because of leakage from a tube for radioactive steam. It turned out that hundreds of such tubes were wearing out unexpectedly fast; repair would require a lengthy hearing process with an uncertain outcome. Last Friday, Southern California Edison announced it would close the entire plant permanently.
Which Way, L.A.?
San Onofre Nuclear Plant to Remain Closed Pending Investigation In January, at the nuclear plant on the coast near San Onofre, a tube carrying radioactive water sprung a leak and Southern California Edison shut down one of two massive reactors. It found that other tubes were in danger of rupturing. There are 20,000 tubes altogether. Some were replaced and others added during a multimillion-dollar makeover and installation of new generators to boost production of electricity. But SoCal Edison apparently failed to tell the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that a new material was being used. That would have triggered an investigation. Instead, the NRC has ordered the shut down of both massive reactors indefinitely. KCRW sent Steve Chiotakis and Avishay Artsy to talk with people (Julie Cho, John Grace, Phaedra Lujano and Jesse Alder) in San Clemente, the plant's closest neighbor. Are they worried? Last night, the City Council of Irvine, downwind of San Onofre, voted to ask that the plant be shut down permanently . Note: The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) and NRC both declined our invitation to participate in this discussion.
Recommended
To the Point
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
To the Point
What happens when America retreats from the world? Is President Trump taking his "America First" agenda to extremes, withdrawing the country from the international stage on trade and climate change, distancing America from its traditional allies across the Atlantic and even threatening to physically isolate the country through the building of a wall along its southern border? León Krauze guest hosts.
To the Point
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.
To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?