Dandekar’s viewpoints on nuclear bills conflict

Sen. Swati Dandekar's April 8 guest column requires a response. She claims that the bills in the Iowa Legislature that would shift the cost of new nuclear plants from MidAmerican to its ratepayers are needed to keep nuclear as a viable option. The only reason the bill is needed is because no private or governmental entities will finance a new nuclear plant unless the risk is shifted to the ratepayers.

Dandekar further claims that the bills do not raise electric rates or authorize construction of a new nuclear plant. But the bills allow MidAmerican to shift the cost of construction to ratepayers, i.e., raise their rates, before the plant is built and allows MidAmerican to keep the revenue even if the plant is never built. The bills also dictate the factors the Iowa Utilities Board must use in setting rates, contrary to current procedure.

Contrary to her wholehearted support of the bills in The Gazette column, Dandekar said in her Marion Times column on April 7 that she does not support the bills in their present form and that the bills do not protect the pocketbooks of families and small businesses. So which is it? Does she support the bills or does she realize they are a bad deal?

It is apparent that the AARP ad was right on the mark. Let Sen. Dandekar know how you feel about this.

Wally Taylor

Marion