By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Council voted 6-1 to continue participating in the Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP) during its Tuesday night meeting.
Councilor Denise Derkacs cast the opposing vote.
She explained that the project seemed to pose too high a risk and she felt the Department of Public Utilities should pursue other options such as nuclear and solar power to achieve its goal of being carbon neutral by 2040.
Others on council said they believed it was worthwhile to remain in the project.
“With the tech available, nuclear is the most promising option,” Councilor Sean Williams said. “I think it does make sense to stay in the project.”
Councilor Sara Scott agreed; adding that all energy sources should be considered.
“We really need to look at multiple options,” she said.
The CFPP is a proposed nuclear power generating facility to be built at the Idaho National Laboratory using first-of-a kind small modular reactor technology developed by NuScale Power, according to a County press release. One module of the nuclear generating facility is slated to be operational in 2029.
The press release further states that the project is being negotiated between the Department of Energy, NuScale Power and the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS), which is a joint action governmental agency comprising of multiple municipal-owned utilities – 28 of which are participating in the CFPP.
The County is subscribed to receive 1.86 megawatts at $58 per megawatt hour; however, by the end of this current phase the County will have the opportunity to increase its subscription level.
In other business, the council passed 6-1 an ordinance for economic development definitions. According to agenda documents, this pertains to the definition of retail businesses undertaken through the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA). It aligns the County’s LEDA plan with changes in state laws.
Williams opposed the ordinance. He said while LEDA was necessary for the state to help fight poverty, he didn’t feel it was necessary for Los Alamos to have public subsidies.
Additionally, Williams said he felt the local LEDA ordinance is being driven by politics rather than the marketplace, which was “dangerous”.
Others on council voiced their support for the ordinance.
Councilor David Izraelevitz said whether a project receives provisions through LEDA will be determined on an individual basis.
He added, “I think it’s a good tool available to us.”
Councilor David Reagor also showed support, saying it is important that the process for utilizing LEDA be open and honest, which is the County Council’s job.
Another item regarding LEDA needed to be pulled due to it being misidentified on the agenda.
The item – an ordinance that would terminate the LEDA agreement with Pebble Labs Inc. – is planned to be introduced during the Aug. 10 council meeting and considered for approval on Aug. 31.