Monday, July 13, 2009

Exelon still holding on to Guadalupe water

Exelon Energy's plans to build two nuclear reactors near Victoria may be on hold, but it hasn't stopped the power company from reserving the rights to 75,000 acre-feet of precious Guadalupe River water for another year — and maybe longer.

The deal, which the Chicago-based energy behemoth inked with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, has worried some Victoria-area residents.

They argue the river doesn't hold enough water to quench the region's current thirst, let alone feed the massive reservoir needed to cool nuclear reactors.

“The river is just flat dry,” said Houston environmental attorney Jim Blackburn, who has been hired by a community organization to oppose Exelon. “It's just a mess right now, and there is no way you can put a firm demand for 75,000 more acre-feet.”

San Antonio Express-News

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