WHEREAS: the Department of Energy (DOE) plans to dispose of surplus weapons plutonium by immobilization in ceramics and possibly as plutonium/uranium oxide (MOX) fuel for commercial reactors (to prevent diversion to bomb making and environmental dispersal);

PECO Energy Company has expressed interest to use MOX fuel;

We believe the public opposes using weapons plutonium fuel because we believe it would: (1) be too dangerous because it would be more hazardous to control during fissioning in reactors, increasing operating risks and component aging; (2) still be weapons-usable, so would require heavy security in transit and at reactors (greater proliferation potential than immobilization); (3) be more costly to fabricate the fuel and to operate the reactors; (4) violate the barrier between nuclear power and nuclear weapons; (5) generate nearly as much new plutonium during fissioning as it initially contained, resulting in little net loss of plutonium; (6) generate great quantities of radioactive waste, exacerbating the already critical, unresolved problems of radioactive waste storage; and (7) increase the likelihood of locking the U.S. into a deadly plutonium economy;

The DOE has an unreliable record over the last 23 years managing large projects;

The potential financial rewards are too small to justify the large risks to some of the Company's most valuable assets;

PECO's long history of violations, fines and safety problems make Limerick 1, 2 or Peach Bottom 2, 3 poor choices to use the more risky MOX fuel; and

Electric utility deregulation is causing most utilities to cut costs. This added pressure to try to make nuclear electricity cost-competitive further reduces public confidence that PECO could maintain safety and security, especially using the more risky weapons plutonium fuel;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the shareholders request the Company to establish a firm policy to refuse to use plutonium (MOX) fuel.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT:

Three utilities (ComEd, Entergy and Virginia Power) recently canceled their interest in MOX, recognizing large risks with doubtful payback. The risks of this new venture cannot be overstated. Weapons plutonium cannot be used directly as fuel, but must undergo complicated and dangerous processing, creating additional radioactive waste. No fabrication facility exists in the U.S. It could be years before MOX fuel could be produced, extending plutonium accessibility for diversion. During these delays, economic or technical conditions may close candidate reactors. Regulatory uncertainties between the DOE and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission could complicate the process, introducing further adverse economic conditions for the utility.

European experience using MOX fuel is only from reprocessed commercial reactor wastes, not weapons plutonium. European public support for MOX fuel is declining. European reprocessing corporations are a driving force of MOX fuel promotion. The U.S. should lead in developing the most effective way to immobilize weapons plutonium directly, and assist all others in this choice.

The safety of hundreds of future generations depends upon the careful isolation of plutonium from the biosphere. Use of weapons plutonium in commercial reactors would create a dangerous precedent. For economic, safety, environmental, and nonproliferation reasons, we urge your supporting vote.
 
 
 

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