Nuclear power plant project: Ruotsinpyhtää municipality said yes to Fennovoima

The Ruotsinpyhtää municipal council supports Fennovoima's nuclear power plant project. At the council meeting on May 18 2009, 15 municipal councilors voted for the project and 6 councilors against. Fennovoima submitted its Decision-in-Principle application in January 2009 and has three alternative locations for the new nuclear power plant. One of the alternatives is Ruotsinpyhtää, located in the Itä-Uusimaa province. The municipality of Ruotsinpyhtää sees that Fennovoima's project would have a positive effect on the economy, employment and demographics of the region. Fennovoima would generate real estate tax and municipal tax revenues for Ruotsinpyhtää and the entire region. Fennovoima's nuclear power plant would considerably strengthen the economy of the region and would generate a strong financial basis for public services in the future, Ruotsinpyhtää municipality points out in its statement. Ruotsinpyhtää, Loviisa, Liljendal and Pernaja will merge in the turn of the year 2010 to greater Loviisa. Last week, the city council of current Loviisa gave a positive statement on Fennovoima's project. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy is requesting statements concerning Fennovoima's Decision-in-Principle application from some 80 authorities and other instances. The statements must be submitted by June 15, 2009 at the latest. The municipal councils of the two other alternative locations for the plant, Pyhäjoki and Simo, will submit their statements in June. All Fennovoima's power plant alternatives can be designed to produce district heating. Ruotsinpyhtää has the best qualities for this purpose as the municipality is not too far away from the capital city area, which is a major heat consumer. The Government´s Decision-in-Principle and Parliament's passing are expected to take place in 2010. Fennovoima will choose the location and the type of the power plant after the Decision-in-Principle has been made.