BEST Opposing Bellefonte Nuclear Plant

Former TVA Board Chairman S. David Freeman is coming out against the proliferation of nuclear power.

TVA is seriously exploring options to revive the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant in Jackson County, Ala. The plant was one of many that TVA mothballed after determining the Agency had "over projected" the demand for energy decades ago. The mothballed nuclear plants created millions of dollars in dept the Agency.

Now TVA says energy demands are increasing to the point that it may be wise to bring the Bellefonte project back to life.

The nearby town of Stevenson, Ala. was recently stunned when Shaw announced the closure of a major plant there that will take away 400 jobs from the community.

However a group called the Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team (BEST) is campaign vigorously against the project. The group is holding a news conference on Thursday, in front of TVA's Downtown Chattanooga Offices, to "explain why more nuclear energy is not the solution to our energy problems despite the rush of politicians to tell us differently."

Freeman is their "keynote speaker."

Freeman is a Chattanooga native who worked in White House energy policy positions under Presidents Nixon, Kennedy, Johnson, and Carter before being appointed to the TVA board in 1977.

He left TVA to head up utilities in Sacramento and Los Angeles, California. He presently serves as President of the commission overseeing the Port of Los Angeles.

Thursday Speakers include:

• Mary Olson, Southeast Director, Nuclear Information & Resource Services
• Louise Gorenflo, BEST Member, Solar Valley Coalition
• Donnie Safer, BEST Member, Chairman, TN Environmental Council
• S. David Freeman*, former TVA Board Chairman and author of "Winning our Energy Independence-An Energy Insider Shows How"