New call for U.S. probe of Vogtle nuke power plant

Watchdog groups fear taxpayers may wind up on the hook for billions.

Consumer and taxpayer watchdog groups in the state are asking Congress to take a close look at the Vogtle nuclear plant project before the Department of Energy finalizes issuance of additional loan guarantees.

The groups say they are worried that Georgia consumers and taxpayers could be on the hook for billions of dollars in loans made for a mismanaged project. Costs for the project have doubled since certification as delays have dragged on for five years.

“I urge you to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars by investigating the Vogtle Project and encouraging the Department of Energy to turn down the Federal Loan Guarantee request by the Vogtle partners,” said Debbie Dooley, president of the Atlanta Tea Party and Conservatives for Energy Freedom.

The Vogtle nuclear plant, the only new commercial nuclear plant in the nation, is being built using new technology never used in the country. Loans for the project that are guaranteed by the Department of Energy would mean the government is obligated to repay them if the borrower defaults.

Last September, the Depart-

‘Georgia ratepayers and federal taxpayers deserve to be protected. We urge you to discontinue federal loan guarantees until we know the future of Vogtle.’ John Hitchins with Georgians for Energy Freedom

ment of Energy announced it would conditionally commit to up to $3.7 billion in loan guarantees toward the project.

But Sarah Barczak, advocacy director with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said it would be outrageous to keep “doling out even more corporate welfare at taxpayers’ expense for a failing nuclear project.”

The DOE issued $8.3 billion in loan guarantees for Vogtle in 2010.

Recently, Ge o rgia Power announced a $2.3 billion cost increase for Plant Vogtle construction.

“Georgia ratepayers and federal taxpayers deserve to be protected. We urge you to discontinue federal loan guarantees until we know the future of Vogtle,” said John Hitchins, with Georgians for Energy Freedom.