Save America's farmland

In the May 12 Omaha World Herald, a reporter broke the news that MidAmerican Energy had allowed its options on land in Fremont County to expire.

The article also stated “ ... the company says it will inform local landowners of its plans by the end of the month and provide documentation of any decision to the Iowa Utilities Board and the Iowa Office of Consumer Advocate.” Plans for their land options in Muscatine County might include asking for permission to build a nuclear plant, asking to build a natural gas plant or deciding to do nothing with their options, which expire in August and September of 2014.

Saving America's Farmland and Environment can do nothing to hurry their answer. We will continue to inform people of the dangers of nuclear power and our resolve to stop the building of any new nuclear plants in Iowa, the irresponsibility of using prime Iowa farmland for any type of power plant, and the need for new baseline generation in the next several years, not the 15- to 17-year time line MidAmerican has projected for building a nuclear plant.

For the imminent need, we have proposed the building of new or retrofitted EPA-compliant energy plants on existing power plant sites that are being decommissioned for not meeting current EPA standards.

With these goals in mind, S.A.F.E. is presenting a free movie, “The Atomic States of America,” at the Wilton Community Center, 1215 Cypress Street, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. This documentary tells the story of a young woman, Kelly McMasters, author of the book “Welcome to Shirley,” who grew up near a nuclear laboratory on Long Island, N.Y. McMasters and people living near nuclear sites around the country reveal the health repercussions of living in their “nuclear neighborhoods.” Renowned physicists, nuclear engineers, investigative journalists, Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors, former government leaders, and community advocates are interviewed as the film makers research what is fact and what is fiction about nuclear power.

A highly rated documentary, the movie was nominated for the grand jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Please join us as we dig deeper into what implications a nuclear plant in the midst of Wilton, Durant, West Liberty, and Muscatine could have for our communities and beyond.

This film is particularly applicable to anyone who lives within 50 miles of the proposed site, as you live in the “contamination zone” of this plant if there would be a nuclear accident.

Because of its content, “The Atomic States of America” is recommended for ninth-grade students and older.

Dianne Glenney of Muscatine is communications contact for Saving America's Farmland and Environment. Questions: (563) 260-8094.