Letter: Senator too quick to criticize city

To the Editor:

Recently, Sen. Steve Murphy's made inflammatory remarks toward the city of Red Wing regarding nuclear power. Murphy is out of line.

Xcel Energy is desperate. They want to relicense, this time for another 20 years and, worse, they want permission to store 35 more casks of spent nuclear fuel on-site. That more than doubles the 29 currently allowed.

The storage facilities at Prairie Island are listed as "temporary." Yucca Mountain is no longer a permanent storage option so Red Wing is in danger of becoming a permanent toxic waste repository.

Is it wrong for the city to question that? Is it wrong to show skepticism when past promises made to the community have been broken?

In 1994 the community of Red Wing, fearful of losing jobs and a large tax base, rallied on behalf of then NSP. The favor has not been returned in kind. Xcel has since pulled money away from the community that supported it. Now the city is scrambling to make up for the lost base while Xcel continues to increase rates and profits.

Xcel also wants to build an additional reactor to increase the supply of power. How much will that cost? No estimate is given. There is no proof that demand is growing and though Xcel is mandated by the state to incorporate alternative forms of energy, these forms are not being considered for the supplementary power Xcel claims to need.

If Senator Murphy is searching for a "cloak of darkness," look no further than Xcel Energy. They want to run the plant longer and hotter, which translates to increased water intake, emissions, hot water discharge flowing into the river and serious additional security risks. They also want taxpayers to shut up and put up.

Senator Murphy seems to agree, saying: "I would hope that in the future the city would more clearly recognize who their friends are and who they are not."

It's becoming more obvious every day. Don't think for a minute that Xcel has our best interests at heart. They don't have hearts. They have pockets. And pockets are for filling.

Michelle Meyer

Red Wing

Tags: steve murphy, xcel energy, nuclear power, opinion, letter