Activists showed up and the Statesman (true to form) emphasied them. But most people here know that Nuclear Reactors in the states are safe, and they know we need the energy.
The issue that is a very real issue around here is the water. This is agricultural country and that agriculture is fed by irrigation waters. That water is stored in several reservoirs (they mention Lucky Peak Dam...but thata is on a different drainage, the Boise River drainage), like Cascade Dam and Deadwood Dam.
Addingt the amount of acre feet of water necessary to feed the reactor is a large amount and would impact irrigation significantly unless another source is developed.
The questions regarding that aspect of this particular plant are very germaine to the area, and to the livelihood of the farmers and ranchers in the area and the communities that support them.
As the crow flies, I’m about 50 miles from where they want to build it. What I had read before they had the meeting up in Payette last night was that this same company wanted to build a nuclear plant further south—I believe near Grand View.
In terms of water usage needed, I would have to think that might be a little better, as it would be right by the Snake River and C.J. Strike Dam.
Reactor 101 - you are not “going to feed the reactor water”; you will be using it for cooling and there are various methods not to steam the water in a cooling tower; and I doubt they would use a cooling tower there anyway.
It’s just another solvable engineering problem, and the water is not going to “disappear” or be eaten by the big bad reactor.