New Coalition Seeks to Break Stalemate on Spent Nuclear Fuel Newsletter Article

September 2021 

Since its launch in March, Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now has made major advancements as the coalition seeks to encourage the federal government to remove spent nuclear fuel from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). As many are aware, the Anaheim/Orange County Hotel and Lodging Association are members of the coalition. In August, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution in support of Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now, joining the City of San Clemente, the Orange County Board of Supervisors, and the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees. These votes strengthen the coalition and are critical steps toward bringing about federal action to produce an offsite storage or permanent disposal solution for spent fuel.

By law, the federal government was to begin picking up spent fuel from sites like SONGS in 1998 and relocating it to a licensed storage or disposal facility. Yet the spent fuel program has been at a standstill for more than a decade. That’s a problem.

Of late, there is hope. Indications are the federal government may soon restart work on a solution. The resolutions in support of the coalition and its growing numbers—with more than 150 members added over the last six months—position Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now to have a strong voice in the process.

Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now is currently reaching out to members of the California Congressional delegation and other policymakers seeking to advance solutions to address our nation’s spent fuel challenges.

For more information about Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now and to stay up to date on coalition news, visit www.spentfuelsolutionsnow.com or follow the coalition on Facebook and Twitter. Membership is free, and anyone who shares an interest in relocating spent fuel away from the Southern California coastline is welcome to join the effort.