Alternative news and discussion for Scottsboro, Jackson County Alabama and the Tennessee River Valley as I see it. Responsible comments to articles welcome. As always, "Watch for Snakes," particularly those wearing suits.
JAMES MADISON QUOTE - 1822
"A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives."
TVA President/CEO Bill Johnson provides the Presidents Report to Board Board Members and Ratepayers Thursday, August 25, 2016. TVA Board Member Lynn Evans is on Mr. Johnson's right.
Several Ratepayers and citizens expressed their concerns with the TVA Board. The Majority of the citizen input involved Floating Homes on TVA waters. Information on the TVA's Floating Homes Policy may be found at this link: https://tva.com/Environment/Shoreline-Construction/Floating-Houses
Summary of the TVA Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Extended Power Uprate Problem compiled by Garry Morgan as presented to the TVA Board of Directors.
Presented to you are
comments of Mark Leyse, Nuclear Safety Advisor, for BEST/MATRR. The information presented to you in the enclosed
report to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board and the Chief Executive Officer, indicates there is an error
in the computer safety model analysis of the Extended Power Uprate (EPU) for
the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFN).
This error undermines the
defense in depth safety requirements of the Browns Ferry Nuclear
Facility. This same report
has been presented as comments to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Non-conservative computer
safety model analyses were performed in order to justify the Extended Power Uprate (EPU) for the Browns
Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFN). As explained
in the comments presented, experimental
data indicates that the EPU analyses under-predict the rates of the chemical reaction between
zirconium and steam that would occur in the event of a loss-of-coolant accident (“LOCA”). This means that the analyses under-predicts
the rates in which energy (heat) is
released, hydrogen generated, and zirconium fuel-cladding oxidized by the zirconium-steam reaction. The computer
safety model is supposed to over-predict temperatures in order to ensure an
adequate margin of safety.
By overlooking the
deficiencies of the computer safety models, the TVA and the NRC have undermined defense-in-depth safety
principles, requiring the application of conservative models in the computer safety model analysis.
The health and safety of citizens living in the
area surrounding the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant should not be
compromised by TVA using these
non-conservative safety models to help qualify for the proposed Extended Power Uprates at the aging Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant.
TVA looking to sell Bellefonte property - Johnson say's "TVA needs to weigh merits of generation, development."
“As we consider this decision, it is important that we hear from interested stakeholders, potential site developers and the general public,” said TVA President and CEO Bill Johnson. “TVA has been investing at a minimal level to preserve the Bellefonte site for future generating use, should we need it.”
“The 2015 Integrated Resource Plan, completed with public input, indicates it may be two decades before additional large baseload generation is needed,” he said. “It’s time we answer the question of whether TVA is serving the public well by retaining control of the Bellefonte site, or if others could make more beneficial use of it. And with economic development as a cornerstone of our mission, TVA wants to know if there is an entity interested in investing and creating jobs at this location.”
The public comment period runs through March 18. There is no public meeting scheduled.
Rumor has been circulating locally that Tom Kilgore, former TVA CEO and Jackson Co. resident, will head up an effort to bring the facility into a power generation mode utilizing new and current assets financed by external players in a VIE, variable interest entity (sell-lease back), type of plan. Locally, EDA representatives are denying this plan.
My thoughts, Nuclear Power proponents are their own worse enemy, they do not look realistically at the truth about cost at the front and the end of such projects. Deceit has become a debilitating culture within the civilian nuclear power industry. There is a penchant for shortcuts to save money. This presents a serious problem in regards to safety, security and Human Reliability
TVA BOARD MEETING
Thursday, February 11, 2016 the Tennessee Valley Authority met in Chattanooga, Tn. for its 1st quarter board meeting.
Bellefonte 3 & 4, motion has been filed to abandon licensing of the AP1000 Reactor project."It's time to quit wasting money pursuing this project that TVA can't afford," said Garry Morgan, a Scottsboro resident and critic of the Bellefonte project... "We welcome TVA's decision to slow the financial hemorrhage at Bellefonte 3 and 4," Dr. Stephen A. Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said in a statement today. "We strongly encourage TVA to go ahead and close the books on the 42-year old Bellefonte 1 and 2 reactor units, which will never be completed, saving more money and allowing Northern Alabama to move into the 21st century with new economic opportunities like Google, energy efficiency and clean solar power."
TVA Wastes Their Time and Our Money - Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team/Mothers Against Tennessee River Radiation, a chapter of Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, presented a report on Friday showing TVA’s "waste of money on nuclear power." The group called for a withdrawal of the operating license for Bellefonte nuclear power plant in Hollywood, Al.
"TVA is not being transparent with the public about their debt and operational costs,” said Garry Morgan, BEST/MATRR treasurer. “They operate under a veil of fractured accounting making it very difficult to figure out their total financial status"..."As we move into a world of solar and wind energy, those sites could be used for safer economic alternatives without radioactive trash and with cleaner air and water for the health of our citizens,” said Gretel Johnston, BEST/MATRR member. "
TVA Finances - debt and liabilities are much higher than reported. All commitments listed on the TVA 1st quarter financial report below. (Click on image for an expanded view.)
VIDEOS
Listening Session - Selected Presentations
Chattanooga, Tennessee - February 11, 2016. TVA Quarterly Board Meeting, Listening Session, input from the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, and their local chapter, The Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team and Mothers Against Tennessee River Radiation. We asked the TVA to stop wasting resources and our rate-payer dollars on the charade of Bellefonte Units 3 & 4, 2 proposed AP 1000 Nuclear Reactors estimated to cost between $12 & 15 Billion in today's dollars
Concerned citizens from various environmental groups in the Tennessee River Valley discuss issues with the TVA Board.
TVA BOARD PRESENTATIONS - Presidents Report - Financial Report - Engineer of the Year, etc.
TVA Board Meeting Intro, TVPPA
TVA Industrial Committee Report, Presidents Report, Engineer of the Year Award, Pension Issue.
TVA Board Meeting Bylaws, Regulatory Issues, Financial Report, Nuclear Oversight-CEO Appointed as WANO Chair, External Relations/People and Performance Committees, Appointment of Joe Ritch as Chair of TVA Board.
"As provided by the TVA Act and the TVA Bylaws, the principal responsibilities of the Board are to establish the broad strategies, goals, and objectives, long-range plans, and policies of TVA and to ensure that those are achieved by the TVA staff led by the Chief Executive Officer. Each Director takes an oath to faithfully and impartially perform the duties of office. Directors serve part-time."
February 12, 2015, TVA Board of Directors Meeting at Chattanooga, Tn. Listening session presentations by BREDL/BEST/MATRR members Sandy Kurtz and Garry Morgan.
February 12, 2015, TVA Board of Directors 1st Quarter 2015 Meeting at Chattanooga, Tn. Finance Report by CFO John Thomas,
February 12, 2015, TVA Board of Directors 1st Quarter 2015 Meeting at Chattanooga, Tn. Presidents Report by Bill Johnson. Engineer of the Year Award - Jeff Phillips.
-->TVA CEO Bill "DaNuke" Johnson claims nuclear power is clean energy and classifies it with renewable energy to reflect a 44% clean energy profile of TVA.
TVA CEO - BILL "DaNuke" JOHNSON
"There is no safe dose of radiation." Dr. Ian Fairlie
During 'normal' operations, nuclear power plants release radioactive poisons into our air and water – poisons that are known to cause genetic mutations, birth defects and cancer, especially in children. This is not medical-grade radiation, but some of the most toxic poisons known to man, poisons that build up in our gene pool and our food chain.
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TVA BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Clean nuclear power ? A total of 94,777 unique individual nuclear workers sick, dead or dying are represented by the 160,322 nuclear worker cases reported since the 2001 Energy Employees Occupational Illness Program Act for nuclear workers. The site link listed below is updated weekly. Prior to the 2001 passage date nuclear worker sickness,death and suffering of employees and familes was kept secret.The current statistics do not include all of the nuclear fuel sites nor reactor sites in the United States where employee contamination has sickened and killed workers. The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Program was codified in 2001 http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/regs/compliance/weeklystats.htm
Contamination events at nuclear sites are not followed up on by the NRC and published for public review as to outcomes of contaminated patients. .
Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team (BEST) / Mothers Against Tennessee River Radiation (MATRR): http://www.matrr.org/
At the beginning of each TVA Board meeting the Board of Directors conduct a Listening Session. A speaker may sign up to speak prior to the meeting. Yesterday's session was long due to many citizens speaking about TVA's Transmission Line Clearance Policy. Approximately 30 citizens spoke in opposition of the policy and cited examples and photographs of inappropriate incursions onto private property. Another 15-20 citizens spoke on the issue of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Sustainable Energy needs, recreation property usage and 4 called for the resignation or firing of Tom Kilgore.
"The Board of Directors guides TVA in achieving the objectives and missions established by the TVA Act for the benefit of the people of the Valley. As provided by the TVA Act and the TVA Bylaws, the principal responsibilities of the Board are to establish the broad strategies, goals, and objectives, long-range plans, and policies of TVA and to ensure that those are achieved by the TVA staff led by the Chief Executive Officer. Each Director takes an oath to faithfully and impartially perform the duties of office. Directors serve part-time." (TVA Board of Directors description)
TVA Executives Power Point presentation to the Board of Directors: TVA Presentation (PDF)
TVA News Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – "Despite a challenging year, the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors on Thursday passed a TVA budget for fiscal year 2013 that includes no increase in wholesale electric rates." http://www.tva.com/news/releases/julsep12/august_board.htm
"Kilgore said he will hold off turning his attention to his farm near Knoxville until TVA has chosen his successor. Board members said they will consider internal candidates and launch a nationwide search for Kilgore's replacement. In the meantime, TVA will begin the new fiscal year holding the line on electricity rates...TVA was able to keep rates steady in spite of losing $290 million in the first three quarters of the fiscal year." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/aug/17/tva-keeping-rates-down-kilgore-to-retire/
TVA's ranking in the top 100 utilities in the nation, 39 0f 100.
Knoxville News Sentinel
"After two hours of hearing complaints about TVA's tree cutting policy and other issues, the TVA board of directors approved a budget proposal Thursday that includes no wholesale electric rate increase for fiscal year 2013...[TVA Chief Financial Officer John Thomas] "We are not recommending a rate increase," he told the board. "We have sufficient resources to meet our obligations next year."" http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/aug/17/no-rate-hike-in-tva-budget/
More debt on tap for FY2013.
Chief Financial Officers Budget Recommendation was approved.
"arklite.blogspot.com"
Comprehensive report on the current financial state of the TVA as described in their Quarterly SEC 10Q filing as of August 3, 2012 and Government Accounting Office's (GAO) October 2011 summary of TVA regarding a lack of financial planning. Also included is the latest TVA Bond Report from Fitch. http://arklite.blogspot.com/2012/08/talkn-about-tva-finances.html
TVA Nuclear Problems
Preston Swafford, TVA Vice President of Nuclear Operations commented on several issues relating to TVA's Nuclear Power programs.
Browns Ferry problems continue to mount. "TVA's Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant flagged for more safety issues. August 15, 2012"
"The Athens, Ala., electricity plant powered by three nuclear reactors had a preliminary "white" finding -- NRC's least serious safety flag -- extended from one of the reactors to all three, according to NRC spokesman Joey Ledford."The "white" finding for all three units was based on an NRC inspection that found plant operators and staff would not have been able to satisfactorily perform newly implemented procedures for safe plant shutdown," Ledford said." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/aug/15/chattanooga-flagged-again-nuclear-plant/
TVA will replace the four steam generators in Unit 2 at the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant. The proposed project would involve off loading the 65-foot-long, 15-foot-diameter cylindrical steam generators from transport barges, the cutting of a 45-foot by 22-foot-oval hole in the roof of the Unit 2 concrete shield building, the removal of the old steam generators through the hole, the installation of the new steam generators, repairing the roof of the shield building, and the on-site storage of the old steam generators in a special shielded building.
According to Dr. Marilyn Brown, TVA Board of Director member and Nuclear Oversight Committee Chair, one of the largest cranes in the world will be erected to remove and replace the steam generators.
It is estimated the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant steam generator replacement project will cost between $320-350 million dollars, tentatively scheduled to begin in September 2012 and will take approximately 90 days for project completion if all goes well.
The next TVA Board Meeting is tentatively scheduled for November 15, 2012 at Scottsboro, Alabama.
Facebook has permanently suspended my account, CENSORED, for telling the truth about Donald Trump's criminal history and disclosing facts about racial discrimination in Scottsboro and our nation. Garry Morgan : 03/15/2025
Copyright Info
All Rights Reserved for writings, video, photographs and art by Garry L. Morgan.
U.S. Copyright Office Fair Use Rule: "Section 107 contains a list of the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered fair, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, nonprofit educational purposes and research. Link: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
Total "In the Boro" Pageviews
Scottsboro Police Department Web Site
""The police are the public, the public are the police. The police are the only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties that are incumbent on every citizen in the interest to community welfare and existence." - Sir Robert Peel, 1829 https://www.scottsboropd.org/
The Sunlight Foundation uses cutting-edge technology and ideas to make government transparent and accountable. Click on image to learn more.
THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY
"I can say with confidence that the federal government needs a major overhaul. Don’t get me wrong, most public servants in government are highly educated and dedicated professionals who are committed to “the greater good.” At the same time, the government has become a bloated bureaucracy that is based on past conditions and in too many cases, federal programs and policies can’t demonstrate that they are generating real results that benefit the American people."
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David Walker President and CEO The Peter G. Peterson Foundation http://www.pgpf.org/ ; former, recently served for 10 years, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
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NPR's story on David Walker: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124460237
"public intelligence"
"What is Public Intelligence? Public Intelligence is an international, collaborative research project aimed at aggregating the collective work of independent researchers around the globe who wish to defend the public’s right to access information." http://publicintelligence.net/
A Nuclear Engineer's Report on the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant
Danger Zone: Aging Nuclear Reactors
Incident at Browns Ferry (PBS 1977)
History of nuclear power safety issues which the 1975 Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant fire brought forward. This video has been censored by the nuclear industry. The trillion dollar multinational nuclear death industry prefers to keep you the citizen in the dark and feed you crap.
Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio and others. Click on image for a tour. Left click & hold mouse to move image.
Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team/Mothers Against Tennessee River Radiation http://www.matrr.org/
"TVA at the Crossroads" a SACE Film.
"America is at an energy crossroads and the Tennessee Valley Authority has a choice to make: Will it cling to old coal power because of its historic significance or will it retire its oldest, dirtiest and least efficient plants and lead America into a clean energy future?" TVA At The Crossroads from SACE.
****************************I'm GARRY MORGAN, a Christian, U.S. Army (AMEDD) retired, Race Relations/Equal Opportunity Specialist (U.S.Army, Retired DOD-DRRI-DEOMI) a citizen of Scottsboro Alabama, a Baylor University grad-Go Bears, a political activist and a political Independent as I believe political parties divide the citizenry whom they are suppose to represent. We must learn the lessons of our history or we will surely repeat our mistakes. I think the greatest problem facing our nation is the massive national and personal debt.
