If we pay for plant, then we’ll form co-op

The Iowa Legislature is trying to sell out the people to corporate interest again. The nuclear energy bill asks three questions - the need, the risk and the cost. We will always need more cheap electricity.

A better option is the small, thorium-powered, molten-salt reactor. Because of the use of thorium, low pressure and self-shutdown features, there is little or no danger of explosion. There is more thorium available than uranium, and because thorium is less dangerous, it can be used closer to population centers, thus recovering some of the 20 percent to 30 percent electricity grid loss over longer distances.

If the cost of a new plant is paid by the ratepayers, then the plant should be owned by them. They can form a co-op and borrow the money from the government at cheap interest. Hire Mid-American or some other company to operate it. The electricity would be the co-op owners and they wouldn't have to hear that the price must go up because outside users are bidding up the price so they have to send higher payments to some corporate billionaire in Omaha, Neb.

Any legislator who votes to have ratepayers pay for a nuclear plant and then have the plant turned over to a corporate billionaire should be charged with corruption.

Dean E. Owens

Palo