Bellefonte, Alabama - Stories About Our Nuclear Future - The Bellefonte Saga - May God have Mercy on our Souls

Ghosts of Bellefonte, photo by G. Morgan

$5 Billion of our money spent, sold for $111 million, and who is ecstatic about such a deal?

Franklin Haney-hahaha. If he builds it as a nuclear plant, he will suffer the same fate as TVA who had many more dollars than Haney. But then again , Haney is TVA's landlord. 

WAAY Video

"Sum'n good will come out of it," says current plant manager - Hahaha, what Franklin Haney goes bust and TVA laughs while ratepayers cry?

11-14-16 Sale of Bellefonte – Press Stories

Estimated costs in today’s money for the 55% complete Bellefonte Unit 1, 8-9 Billion dollars; Unit 2, 35% complete, 10-12 billion dollars.

TVA Press Release: HOLLYWOOD, Ala. ― The Tennessee Valley Authority announced today the sale of the 1,400 acre Bellefonte property, near Hollywood, Ala., to Nuclear Development, LLC for the purchase price of $111 million. The sale concludes a six-month competitive auction process designed to promote job creation and investment in northeast Alabama.  http://www.snl.com/Cache/1001216661.PDF?O=PDF&T&Y&D&FID=1001216661&iid=4063363

Clarion, Scottsboro, Al. article: Haney Investments was represented by former Congressman Bud Cramer during the press conference. http://www.theclarion.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10535:bellefonte-auctions-for-111-million-&catid=42:clarion-rotation-stories&Itemid=142

Daily Sentinel, Scottsboro, Al. article: “Today marks the first step of an exciting new journey for the people of Alabama and Tennessee,” said Franklin L. Haney, who established Nuclear Development in 2012. “The Bellefonte Nuclear Station will help transform communities across the region many of which have been hit hard by the forced closure of coal power plants over the last decade. This project will bring new life to the region by creating thousands of jobs while providing assured access to reliable, affordable, zero-emission energy.”

Haney said he also would like to thank the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer Bill Johnson “for their diligent work in executing this fair and open bidding process. I am grateful for the entire Alabama and Tennessee congressional delegations – especially Senators Shelby, Sessions, Alexander and Corker, as well as Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley – for their continued support of nuclear development throughout this process.”

Chattanooga Times Free Press - HOLLYWOOD, Ala. — Chattanooga developer Franklin L. Haney, who has spent the past decade trying to acquire TVA's Bellefonte Nuclear Power plant, emerged today as the winner at an auction of the abandoned nuclear plant.

Haney, who organized an investment group known as Nuclear Development LLC, agreed to pay $111 million to acquire the abandoned twin-reactor complex and the 1,600 acres it occupies along the Tennessee River here.

Haney said he hopes to finish Bellefonte, creating between 3,000 and 4,000 temporary construction jobs, and an estimated 2,000 full-time jobs once both reactors become operational.  http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2016/nov/14/haney-wins-bidding-contest-abandoned-nuclear-plant/397652/

Nuclear Development LLC — formed by Tennessee businessman Franklin L. Haney and based in Washington, D.C. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tva-selling-unfinished-nuclear-plant-northeast-alabama-43521613 Virginia: https://sccefile.scc.virginia.gov/Business/S336227  Secretary of State in Virginia lists the corporate license as delinquent. https://sccefile.scc.virginia.gov/Find/Business?SearchTerm=nuclear+development+llc&SearchPattern=K&as_fid=DqXOVjh-9mgzXgg1_3c-

Al.com press release: An unfinished nuclear power plant in northeast Alabama this morning was auctioned for $111 million. Nuclear Holdings LLC, a Washington D.C. based company, promises in its bid to bring 2,000 permanent jobs to north Alabama and up to 4,000 temporary construction jobs. The company says it plans a $13 billion investment to bring the plant online as an energy producer. http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2016/11/an_unfinished_alabama_nuclear.html

Nuclear Holdings, LLC https://www5.sos.state.oh.us:8443/ords/f?p=100:7:0::NO:7:P7_CHARTER_NUM:1676058

Haney Bentley Connection-Political Payola

Just the traceable donations from Haney's businesses to Bentley's last campaigns total about $300,000, much of which moved into Bentley's campaign account after the last election was over. Again, that's only what's easily traceable. That campaign account subsequently paid the salary of Rebekah Caldwell Mason, the governor's senior political advisor with whom he is accused of having an affair.  http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/after_hefty_campaign_donations.html

Rapid increases in the estimated cost to complete Bellefonte also may have also contributed to the utility taking it out of future plans for new generation capacity.  In 2013 the costs reportedly jumped from about $5 billion to a range of between $7.4 and $8.9 billion.  A private equity effort headed by Franklin Haney, an investor, offered to complete the reactor and operate it for $10 billion.  TVA turned him down saying the plan didn’t have good enough numbers to proceed. http://www.theenergycollective.com/dan-yurman/2216491/tva-backs-away-bellefonte

By 2006, when construction was halted again and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) construction permits were terminated, these completion percentages had been revised to 55 and 35. http://thebulletin.org/delivering-nuclear-promise-tvas-sale-bellefonte-nuclear-power-plant-site9524

The Problem, maybe for Haney

TVA ACT reference Section 10 and Section 15d prohibitions on sale of power outside of TVA area and power producing corporations in TVA’s area:  https://www.tva.com/file_source/TVA/Site%20Content/About%20TVA/TVA_Act.pdf

Historical Stories

1976 Report by the GAO on Bellefonte: http://www.gao.gov/assets/80/78948.pdf

"The Zombie Reactor" - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/business/energy-environment/16nuclear.html

SACE -  Privatizing Bellefonte: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly  http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2013/12/21/privatizing-bellefonte-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

DELUSION - "TVA Votes to Complete Bellefonte"  http://www.snl.com/Marketing/HTML_Email/Current/12753/GenerationMarkets082311.pdf

BEST-MATRR Videos

SACE - Fairewinds Video

The Bellefonte Nuclear Power Saga 
http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Bellefonte%20Nuclear%20Power%20Plant

Vultures Gather at TVA's Nuclear Money Sinkhole

On a bright and sunny spring morning on June the 2nd, 2011, the Turkey Vultures gather at the Bellefonte Nuclear sinkhole. This nuclear plant is located on non-stable Karst Terrain. Could the vultures be waiting on the TVA financial collapse? TVA debt, $25 billion with a Congressional mandated $30 billion cap, not counting the approximate $23 billion interest on their bond debt, TVA would not survive in private business. Bellefonte has not been approved for operation by the TVA Board but the TVA continues to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into the plant.

Nuclear Power is not the answer, learn more at http://www.matrr.org/

Part 1 of a 2 part article from the Daily Sentinel:
http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_9fd8e13a-8d6f-11e0-8788-001cc4c03286.html?success=1    

 Morganton, NC AP News Report on Bellefonte  http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TN_TVA_BELLEFONTE_TOUR_NCOL-?SITE=NCMOR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

al.com article from Huntsville Times:  http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/06/bellefonte_nuclear_plant_may_b.html

                                                                      

TVA Nuclear, Bellefonte Decision Delayed

(TVA photo-artist conception of 4 nuclear reactors at Bellefonte.)

Above photo, TVA's "Bellefonte Dream" 4 radioactive nuclear reactors, insuring Bellefonte is a radioactive waste dump for over a thousand years. Wonderful legacy for future generations. The 2 Babcock & Wilcox reactors in foreground, were approximately 90% and 68% complete until the plants were gutted and stripped after TVA requested cancellation of the construction license. Construction license cancellation was approved and later reinstated by the NRC. Not one (1), no vote of approval was acquired for the reinstatement of the construction license; there was 1 vote disapproved and 3 votes jointly approved-disapproved, yet the construction permit was granted.
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After gutting of the 2 nuclear reactor plants it has been reported the facility is now 50% complete. However, TVA press releases have stated the plants are anywhere from 60% to 90% complete. Misinformation is par for the course for the TVA. The 2 Westinghouse AP 1000 nuclear radioactive producing plants, right side of the above conception photo, are located precariously close to a massive sink hole which is seen in the wooded area above the 2 plants, right side of the photo.

(BEST-photo, "Stop Bellefonte.")

The TVA announced Tuesday that the decision concerning Bellefonte would not be made until later this year. The TVA has stated there are 3 choices for the Bellefonte site. 1) Finish one Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) reactor. The B&W reactors are approximately 50% complete, stripping the plant of usable parts occured after the construction license was cancelled, estimated cost between $3-4 billion dollars; 2) build 2 AP 1000 reactors, approximate cost, $16-18 billion dollars; 3) do nothing.

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Chattanooga Times Free Press article. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/mar/17/tva-delays-decision-on-bellefonte-future/

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The TVA has completely ignored the most efficient and cost effective choices for Bellefonte and the TVA, a 3 part 4th choice: 1) Energy Efficiency & energy conservation, very low cost, 2) new generation solar plant, $200 million, 3) 880 mega watt Natural Gas Combined Cycle, $890 million, gas line from Marion Co Tennessee $150 million. A combined cycle natural gas plant could use part of the existing equipment at Bellefonte; total cost estimate of $1.24 billion, generating over 900 mega watts of power. The B&W reactor would generate 1000 mega watts of power at 3 times the cost.

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The TVA had tentatively scheduled the decision for completion of Bellefonte during the April 16, 2010 Board of Directors meeting at Knoxville, Tn. Current reports indicate the decision concerning Bellefonte will come later in the year.

(TVA photo, Bellefonte Units 1 & 2.)

Photo above, the current Bellefonte site. Bellefonte is located over porous limestone rock known as Karst Terrain. There are sinkholes, caves and springs which are found in this area. The ridge shown in the picture, behind the nuclear reactors, is known as River Ridge, an ancient minor earthquake fault line. Approximately 1 mile west of the plant is the Sequatchie Fault, a fault line where earthquakes occur more frequently. http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/southeast/2009/07/28/102554.htm

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Chattanooga Times Free Press video link: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/dec/13/video-deciding-tva-bellefontes-future-nuclear-powe/ Tubing, valves, actuators, condensors, motors and pumps were scrapped.

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Links-Nuclear Power Hazards: http://arklite.blogspot.com/2010/02/contamination-fires-failed-safety.html

The continuing saga of Bellefonte: http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Bellefonte%20Nuclear%20Plant?max-results=20

garrymorgan.icopyright.com

Bellefonte Nuclear, Suit Filed in Federal Court-Press Release, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League

GROUPS TAKES BELLEFONTE FIGHT TO A HIGHER COURT

Yesterday the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed a Petition for Review in the US Court of Appeals of the Bellefonte nuclear power plant in Alabama. The League seeks judicial review of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s reinstatement of construction permits for two nuclear reactors, the so-called Bellefonte 1 and 2.

The League’s petition relies in part on a statement from a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission who voted against the Bellefonte Construction Permit. In January Commissioner Jaczko wrote, “There is an inherent danger in ignoring this obvious fact. Licenses exist for a purpose. We use them to fulfill our statutory mandate of protecting the public health and safety.”

Local residents supporting the League’s petition criticized the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s action. Louise Gorenflo, of the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team in Chattanooga, said, “NRC’s mission is to protect public health. But they’re bending over backwards to accommodate TVA and ignoring their role as regulators.”

The League’s Science Director, Louis Zeller, said, “TVA has cannibalized its original plant, rendering it useless. The off-again, on-again history of this plant, the uncertain management, and the unprecedented reinstatement add up to a situation which is both dangerous and illegal.”

James B. Dougherty authored the March 30th petition to the court. This month the League hired Mr. Dougherty to work with them on the Bellefonte challenge.

The Bellefonte construction permit was first issued in 1974; construction was halted twice, in 1985 and 1994, before the permit was withdrawn in 2005. Since then, salvage operations have removed valuable components such as stainless steel pipes.

Points of Contact:
Louis Zeller (336) 982-2691 office, (336) 977-0852 cell
Louise Gorenflo (931) 484-2633
James Dougherty (202) 488-1140

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Update April 1, 2009:
Interesting Article in this mornings Scottsboro Daily Sentinel newspaper. Headline Reads: "Group Tries To Block Bellefonte," true. What is not true is this statement in the article, refering to Units 1 & 2 Construction Permits, "The Commission voted 3-1 in February to reinstate construction permits..." that is not true and reflects the continuing stream of propaganda being pandered to the citizens about this project.
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The truth is, not one, none, zilch, zero, -0- votes of approval were given to reinstate the construction permits. The vote results of the 4 NRC Commissioners were: 1-disapproved and 3 voted both disapproved and approved. There was NO VOTE OF APPROVAL. The single disapproved voter stated, "...there is an inherent danger in ignoring the obvious fact. Licenses exist for a purpose. We use them to fulfill our statutory mandate of protecting the public health and safety." This statement was made due to the NRC's policy concerning terminated and deferred status which states, "... a terminated plant is a nuclear power plant at which the licensee has announced that construction has been permanently stopped, but which still has a valid construction permit." There is no valid construction permit for Bellefonte Units 1 & 2, it was cancelled by the TVA. This policy statement was highlighted in COMMISSIONER SVINICKI's comments and rulings. The Commissioners which voted with Commissioner Svinicki's "disapproved-approved" vote each stated an agreement with her position.
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It is significant that the NRC Staff Reviewer noted there could be no return to a terminated or deferred status of the Construction Permit as there is no Construction License in existence as required by NRC Policy as it was cancelled by the TVA.
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However, the NRC Staff and the 3 Commissioners voting "approved-disapproved," with no single vote of approval, went ahead over the objections of the Senior Staff Reviewer and Commissioner Jaczko's protest and moved to reinstate a non-existing construction permit and placed the TVA's non-existant, previously cancelled permit into a terminated status in violation of the NRC's Policy and Regulatory Guidance.

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This is the reason this case will be heard in the Federal Court System. It is also the reason the 3 Commissioners voted "approved-disapproved." There was no legal form or fashion they could vote Approved as there was no Construction Permit/License in existence, it had been cancelled.

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The 3 errant Commissioners schemed to violate NRC Policy and circumvent procedures in the Nuclear Licensing Process. The question now arises, did the 3 Commissioners actions violate the Atomic Energy Act?

More on Bellefonte

TVA's big dream, 4 nuclear power units at BLN, Bellefonte. The TVA is near their Congressional mandated debt cap of $30 Billion. In last weeks TVA Board Meeting it was announced there has been a "serious reduction in load," decreasing electrical sales, demand is way down except during historical peak load times where peak load is increasing. The TVA's liabilities are increasing while sales are decreasing. The Chief Financial Officer of the TVA reports, (1) "we have a serious economic situation due to low sales, (2) the Kingston Disaster, up to $825 million cost, (3) a $3 Billion Dollar loss in Retirement Funds and Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Funds from the Stock Market loss....(4) the North Carolina legal action concerning air pollution could cost the TVA $1 Billion...(5) a settlement was reached with Areva for cancelled fuel assemblies for Bellefonte from units 1&2, Areva sued for $47 million, TVA and Areva settled in arbitration for $8 million." Total debt was not revealed in the Quarterly Meeting. Last quarter debt disclosure reflected a debt of $25 Billion plus. Link to viewing TVA's February 12, 2009 Board Meeting in Knoxville, TN On-Demand Video Stream (Windows Media)

TVA's Bellefonte Units 1 & 2, 3 miles from Scottsboro, Al. at Hollywood, Al. on the Tennessee River.

If the TVA is to continue with the nuclear project they must stop the lies being pandered on local citizens by TVA's Officials and local politicians. Unfortunately our elected leaders and governmental officials can't seem to figure out there are citizens who will not tolerate the continuing stream of lies and deceit pandered by elected officials and governmental bureaucrats in relationship to the Bellefonte Nuclear Project. It is the lies and circumvention of laws and policy in building this power plant that causes the delays. The bureaucrats and the propaganda machine of the nuclear industry attempt to blame delays on "environmental activists." When in fact the delays are created by propaganda artists and downright lies on the part of governments officials. The TVA, politicians and bureaucrats can't seem to bring themselves to tell the truth concerning Bellefonte, not to mention a continuous stream of lies about other energy issues and national problems. How will a broke TVA pay for Bellefonte? TVA refuses to discuss or disclose that information.
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Once again we read in this mornings newspaper about the deceit of Bellefonte and how the political powers lie to citizens.

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First off let me say I appreciate the Daily Sentinels reporting of this continuing saga. Thank God we have a newspaper that does report the story instead of hiding it.
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In this mornings weekend edition of the Daily Sentinel another story attempting to clarify yesterdays story about the Nuclear Plant Construction. There is much that is not said and lies that are being told, once again. It is very disappointing to see a recently elected Federal Official in the name of Parker Griffith "lie thru his teeth."
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Mr. Griffith states in this mornings D.S. about Bellefonte, "We have been waiting for this day for quite a while. (Meaning the alleged reinstatement of the construction permits for Bellefonte.)Bringing down the cost of energy has always proven to be a big shot in the arm of a failing economy, and I am proud to say we are one step closer to that."
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Mr. Griffith, I am shocked and ashamed to say that you are this areas political representative in Washington. You are not telling the truth and are pumping the areas residents full of more Washington political B.S. Nuclear power is not cheap and it will not bring down the cost of energy. Your statement is nothing more than a political feel good story that does not reflect the truth. You Mr. Griffith continue the Washington tradition of lying to the public.
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NRC's comment about reinstating a defunct, expired, cancelled construction license, permit: ""The request to reinstate construction permits for Bellefonte is unprecedented," according to NRC spokesman Ken Clark." Article in the Knoxville News: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/aug/28/tva-considers-project-bellefonte/?printer=1/

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Fellow citizens, "if you can't do it right you ought not do it at all." An old adage that holds much weight. The NRC in this case has violated their own policy and the law in this matter. The Bellefonte license was withdrawn, it is no longer a valid license. There is no reinstatement of a defunct, not valid construction license-permit, the NRC is making up the story as they go, they admit it, "unprecedented" is their statement. The TVA and area politicians are attempting to peddle political influence in attempts to circumvent law and NRC policy, they are being successful, for now.
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If Bellefonte is to be built this type of political and bureaucratic deceit only hampers the process and will result in legal action being filed against the parties involved. From NRC official documentation, "BLN Unit 1 was approximately 90% complete and Unit 2 was approximately 58% complete." Unfortunately those figures do not hold weight, the reactor vessels and operating controls were stripped many months ago. Why not do it right instead of making it up as you go? Toshiba, Westinghouse, Bechtel getting nervous for their billions of dollars promised?

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NRC Official Press release: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2009/09-035.html

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Isn't it wonderful, we as citizens and rate payers are still paying on a defunct Bellefonte Nuclear Plant, Areva and TVA settled for $8 million in a $47 million suit Areva filed against the TVA for cancelling the nuclear fuel assemblies for Bellefonte Units 1&2.

Bellefonte Permits Reinstated says headline.

The aircraft pictured is a Russian YAK with a Red Star visible on the wing. The Bellefonte defunct and gutted power plant is in the background. The TVA is a socialist governmental corporate entity of the U.S, the Russian YAK fits in nicely.

If you will notice the caption over the picture reads that the units are placed in a "terminated" status. Does terminated mean reinstated, within our government anything is possible, including a Russian YAK over a proposed Nuclear Power Plant. Who knows what the future will bring, the communists??

I think this article is a result of political grandstanding earlier in the week by our Washington Legislative Delegation making promises they can't fulfil.

Links: http://thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=8a8d15b279c90c2c
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990220014

Ghosts of Bellefonte, Alabama 1940's and Now

First Picture is circa late 1940's by Mr. Wendell Page, the second July 17, 2008 by Garry Morgan. The chimney is all that remains of the old Martin Tavern & Inn; Bellefonte means "beautiful spring."

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The following is a brief history of Bellefonte from the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce web site. " The first courthouse was built at Bellefonte, just after the year 1828. It served the people of the Jackson County thirty-five years or longer. When an Act was passed in the Legislature to vote on moving the county seat from Bellefonte, approved December 17, 1859, and for nine years the question was before the people. Finally Scottsboro became the county seat and the county records were moved from Bellefonte on Friday, November 13, 1868." http://www.jacksoncountychamber.com/history.html

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There is a debate over how the Bellefonte Court House met its fate toward the end of the Civil War. Some say the "Yankees" burned it to the ground. Others say one or more local property owners burned the Court House to destroy property records in order to increase their own holdings thru fraud, the true story is up for debate. However the Federal Army utilized the building for a Headquarters on more than one occasion. Learned local historians have stated it was burned by one or more local citizens.

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It would seem the ghost of Bellefonte still haunts the area as a vacant nuclear facility sits idle. The same ghost may haunt TVA coffers, their debt of $22 billion and a debt cap of $30 billion, against a $14-18 billion dollar new Bellefonte Nuclear Facility spells another haunting possibility, a financially insolvent TVA. No $12 million annual dollars for Jackson County Government entities. Are we sure we need another nuclear ghost? >>>>

Ghostly markers of our history, kind of like the Pb 212 (radioactive lead) found in our water supply in 1999. Testing for radioactive substances is not an annual event, unfortunately.