"Nuclear Renaissance" or shall we say "Nuclear Relapse"

Stories and information regarding the push for the building of new nuclear power plants.

2007 Proposed Loan Guarantees for Nuclear Industry

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) has requested $25 billion in Fiscal Year 2008, and an additional $25 billion “or more“ in Fiscal Year 2009, from the U.S. Treasury for taxpayer-backed federal loan guarantees for the construction of new atomic reactors in the US. If successful, NEI would be back for mammoth subsidies in the years to follow as well. NEI and its member nuclear utilities and atomic construction firms, such as Bechtel, are desperate because Wall Street banks and investment firms are still too burned by the huge cost overruns and construction delays of the 1970s and 1980s to risk investing another penny in nuclear power. However, if these federal loan guarantees are enacted into law, and the nuclear utilities default on their loan repayments, then taxpayers would be left holding the bag. Private investors would then have nothing to lose, because taxpayers would be forced to repay the loans. The Congressional Budget Office has predicted that a whopping 50% or more of new nuclear construction projects will likely default on their loans, and that the U.S. Department of Energy will likely underestimate up-front fees charged to borrowing nuclear utilities intended to protect taxpayers against such loan defaults. The end result? Taxpayers would be left liable for untold billions, or even tens of billions, of dollars in nuclear construction loan defaults. It would be an atomic version of the Savings and Loan Scandal, Chrysler Bailout, and Subprime Loan Meltdown.

Lack of Budget Could Hurt Nuclear Energy Revival, Official Says

The senior member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission warned on Monday that the failure of Congress to pass a detailed budget for the current fiscal year could damage the nuclear renaissance that the government tried so hard to encourage with the energy bill of 2005.

New nuclear power ‘wave’ — or just a ripple? - How millions for lobbying, campaigns helped fuel U.S. industry's big plans

Buoyed by billions of dollars in subsidies pushed through Congress by the Bush administration, the U.S. nuclear power industry says 2007 is the year its plans for a “renaissance” will reach critical mass.

Pete Domenici: nuclear renaissance man - Long-serving lawmaker is driving force behind U.S. industry's rebirth

If the renaissance that the U.S. nuclear power industry predicts for itself is indeed occurring, then Pietro “Pete” Vichy Domenici, the son of Italian immigrants, may be seen as both its Michelango and its Machiavelli. And the New Mexico uranium plant is just one piece of deft political artwork the conservative Republican has brought to a nuclear industry that has showered him with praise — and hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions.

Plan for nuclear cartel faces reality check - Expense, technical challenges threaten to keep GNEP in starting gate

Unveiled by the Bush administration early last year, GNEP envisions a system in which developing nations would receive nuclear power plants and fuel from the West in return for agreeing not to develop their own nuclear technology. The plan hinges on the controversial element of reprocessing spent nuclear rods to produce fuel that can be burned at GNEP plants, an activity that has never been done commercially in the United States.

Duke Energy CEO reveals doubts about nuclear plant - Proposal faces obstacles of storage and finance

Duke Energy Chief Executive Jim Rogers said Friday he was growing pessimistic about the company's chances of building a nuclear power plant on schedule -- or at all -- because of concern over costs and other issues.

Nuclear Renaissance Plagued by High Costs, Waste Issues

Depending upon which side of the fence you are sitting, the nuclear renaissance is either in full blossom or an arid landscape. The new uranium miners – Paladin Resources, UrAsia and SXR Uranium One – celebrate the record spot and long-term uranium price. Exelon Corp Chief Executive John Rowe is less sanguine, based upon comments he made this past Friday, “The government may have fooled me on 17 reactors that I currently run, but I’m the one who’s being foolish if I build a new plant without knowing what they’re going to do with the spent fuel.” Exelon is the largest owner of nuclear power plants in the United States.

Nuclear power's French connection - Ambitious Areva is second to none at American-style power politics

With help from the allies it funds in Congress and legions of highly paid lobbyists, the U.S. nuclear power industry won billions of dollars in tax breaks and subsidies for its promised “renaissance.” But the biggest winner of all could be a French firm that most Americans have never heard of. That’s because Areva, an atomic energy giant owned by the French government, appears to be better positioned than any of its competitors to benefit from growth in the U.S. nuclear industry and increased federal spending on it.

Does nuclear power make financial sense? - Industry must persuade Wall St. that new advantages translate to profits

On Sept. 16, 1954, in a speech to a group of science writers, Adm. Lewis L. Strauss, then head of the agency now known as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, made a bold prediction. The potential for peaceful uses of nuclear energy was so great, he said, that electricity produced by nuclear power plants would one day be “too cheap to meter.”

Analysis of Nuclear Subsidies in Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007

Senators Lieberman and McCain’s Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007 (S.280) would authorize more than $3.7 billion in federal subsidies for new nuclear power plants. The bill provides a wide range of subsidies, including subsidies for engineering and design costs, loans and loan guarantees for building three new plants, and direct financial awards for new projects. Many of these same provisions were passed into law in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which provides more than $13 billion in tax breaks and subsidies to the nuclear industry. S.280 also includes extensive subsidies for new coal plants, which are not included in this analysis.

California State Law Regarding New Nuclear Power Plants

California law prohibits the construction of any new nuclear power plants in California until the Energy Commission finds that the federal government has approved and there exists a demonstrated technology for the permanent disposal of spent fuel from these facilities. California's existing nuclear power plants provide a significant amount of California's non-fossil fuel based energy and power but produce significant amounts of spent nuclear fuel. Continued operation of these plants will require substantial investments in replacement steam generators, turbines and other major pieces of equipment, ongoing recruitment and training to maintain an experienced nuclear work force, and accommodation of evolving federal policy regarding nuclear technology, in addition to other requirements.

Nuclear Power Is Not the Answer by Helen Caldicott

The following is the Introduction to Dr. Helen Caldicott's new book Nuclear Power Is Not the Answer.

Cost of reopening U.S. nuclear reactor shows how difficult it will be to build new facilities

The Tennessee Valley Authority plans to reopen its Browns Ferry 1 nuclear reactor this month - 22 years after it was shut for safety reasons and five years after extensive renovations began. The move reflects the increased interest in nuclear power as an energy source that does not contribute to global warming. But the government agency's willingness to spend $1.8 billion on the overhaul - almost as much as a new plant is supposed to cost - also shows just how difficult it is to build a new plant.

Risky Business: The Outlook for Investing in Nuclear Power

A new report scrutinizes the nuclear industry from an investor’s perspective and finds a rotting fantasy of cheap energy and huge returns.

WHY A FUTURE FOR THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY IS RISKY

A new report scrutinizes the nuclear industry from an investor’s perspective and finds a rotting fantasy of cheap energy and huge returns.

AB 719 - Introduced

Existing law prohibits land use in the state for nuclear fission thermal powerplants or, where applicable, the plants from being certified by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, except for certain existing plants, until the commission makes a finding regarding the existance of an aproved and demonstrated technology or means for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste. The commission is also required to perform certain other duties with regard to nuclear fission thermal powerplants. This bill would create the California Zero Carbon Dioxide Emission Electrical Generation Act of 2007. The bill would repeal that prohibition regarding permitting and certifying nuclear fission thermal powerplants, along with certain other duties of the commission with regard to nuclear fission thermal powerplants.

AB 719 - Analysis

An analysis of AB 719 by the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.

Nuclear industry leaders identify challenges for U.S. nuclear energy renaissance

The NEI is telling us which message is the most damaging to its "renaissance" so let's be sure to include this in all our media.

Nuclear greenwashing

Global warming has suddenly put nukes back on the agenda — but there's a lot the industry isn't telling you

Patt Morrison Forum on Nuclear Power

KPCC's Patt Morrison hosted a program addressing nuclear power in San Clemente on Friday evening, May 4. Interest in nuclear generation of energy has increased because of the concerns for global warming and the accumulation of carbon dioxide from the non-nuclear production of electricity. Forum panelists covered both the pros and cons of the issue. They included: Richard Rosenblum, Vice President of Generation at the San Onofre power plant; Chuck Devore, Assemblyman from the 70th District (Newport Beach, Irvine, Tustin, Lake Forest, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods); Daniel Hirsch, President of the group Bridging the Gap; and, Rochelle Becker representing the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility.

Too Hot to Handle? The Future of Civil Nuclear Power

Frank Barnaby and James Kemp, with a foreword by David Howarth MP, July 2007 --- Supporters of nuclear power claim that the security risks can be managed. However, this briefing paper clearly shows that a worldwide nuclear renaissance is beyond the capacity of the nuclear industry to deliver and would stretch to breaking point the capacity of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to monitor and safeguard civil nuclear power. ---- Even a failed terrorist attack on one of the first new builds would most probably cause subsequent new build to halt in many countries. If this happened, the authors argue that governments would need to again review energy policy - minus civil nuclear power - further delaying progress towards a sustainable and secure energy policy and possibly causing the UK and other countries to miss the window of opportunity to tackle climate change. ---- This briefing paper is one of a series of reports and factsheets published as part of ORG's Secure energy project.

Atomic Blowback

The New Face of Nuclear Power (Same as the Old)

Critics argue nuclear power not answer to climate change

Cranking up more nuclear power plants won't answer the country's energy needs and it's a poor way to fight global warming, two nuclear power critics said Wednesday during a stop in Columbia. A buildup of nuclear plants could cost taxpayers billions of dollars and create more high-level atomic waste, said environmentalist Brent Blackwelder and Robert Alvarez, a former U.S. Energy Department official.

A Warming World: No to Nukes

It's tempting to turn to nuclear plants to combat climate change, but alternatives are safer and cheaper.

Landmark Energy Policy Study Points the Way to U.S. Energy Future without Fossil Fuels or Nuclear Power

Protecting Climate Will Require Essentially Complete Elimination of U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions by 2050

The mirage of nuclear power

The industry has never proved that it can deliver on its far-fetched dreams.

Investors warned to steer clear of nuclear

Speaking after an address to the Investment and Financial Services Association by Australian of the Year Tim Flannery, an advocate for nuclear generation to replace coal and oil energy, she said she was "less optimistic" about the future of nuclear. Ms Hudson said old technology, huge conversion costs and waste disposal plagued the industry. She was unconvinced technological advances had made nuclear safer.

Going nuclear on warming

"Virtually every energy technology available today produces greenhouse gas emissions, including nuclear power. The myth that nuclear power or "clean coal" technologies are carbon-free illustrates how many of the nation's thought leaders are using first-grade math on the complex calculus of climate stabilization."

Energy costs may explode in switch to nuclear power

After painstakingly analyzing the costs of U.S. nuclear power plants built decades ago, energy experts caution that a resurrection of nuclear power could bring along some financial risk and surprisingly high electricity costs.

Money Matters in Reactor Project Debate

Financing, Rather Than Safety, Appears to Be Key Factor in Whether Plans Proceed

Threats to UK nuclear building schedule

Efforts to build a new generation of nuclear power plants are under threat from staff shortages, Whitehall disputes over investment in renewables and how to deal with nuclear waste, according to leaked documents from the government department overseeing the programme.

Challenging Nuclear Power in the States

Capitalizing on rising energy prices, growing concern about global warming, and a favorable political climate, the nuclear industry is working to achieve a “nuclear renaissance.” After 30 years without a single new order for a nuclear power plant in the U.S., several companies are now in the early stages of proposing new nuclear power plants. Meanwhile, federal officials have begun routinely approving requests to run existing nuclear plants harder and longer than ever. A “nuclear renaissance” would be a bad deal for American consumers, the environment, public safety and national security.

Nuclear power and water scarcity

Some problems associated with nuclear power are much discussed – such as its connection to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Less well known is the fact that nuclear power is the most water-hungry of all energy sources, with a single reactor consuming 35-65 million litres of water each day.

Nuclear energy: New report highlights nuclear decline in spite of industry talk of renaissance

The role of nuclear energy is in decline, according to a report 'World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2007' presented by the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament today. The report outlines that the proportion of nuclear energy in power production has decreased in 21 out of 31 countries, with five less functioning nuclear reactors than five years ago. There are currently 32 nuclear power plants under construction or in the pipeline, 20 fewer than at the end of the 1990s.

Once Taboo, Nuclear Power Experiences Renaissance in California

With the state's attention focused on combating climate change, lawmakers and some environmentalists are increasingly willing to at least talk about building new nuclear energy plants - a topic once considered taboo.

How risky is the new era of nuclear power?

Nearly two years ago, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission gave the operator of the Indian Point nuclear plant a year to add backup power supplies to the plant's emergency warning sirens. Entergy paid a $130,000 government fine in April — but still hasn't done the work at the plant 24 miles north of New York City.

New report highlights nuclear decline in spite of industry talk of renaissance

The role of nuclear energy is in decline, according to a report 'World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2007' presented by the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament today. The report outlines that the proportion of nuclear energy in power production has decreased in 21 out of 31 countries, with five less functioning nuclear reactors than five years ago.

Atomic power regains its glow - Governments must take a gimlet-eyed look. Nuclear's drawbacks haven't gone away.

More than two decades after the Chernobyl meltdown, the world again is staring uneasily at the Janus faces of nuclear power. One offers an energy source that won't cause global warming. The other presents challenges in cost, safety, disposal, and nuclear proliferation.

Nuclear industry wants a reboot - Even in California, where new plants are barred for now, plans are afoot

Stoked by new federal subsidies and worries over global warming, the nuclear power industry is beginning to glowbrightly once again. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission received seven applications for new power plants last year and is expecting a dozen more by the end of December. Spokesman Scott Burnell said the applications represent 22 reactors, because more than one is proposed for several of the sites.

Defects found in nuclear reactor the French want to build in Britain

Safety investigators uncover cracks in the concrete base and substandard welds. Lack of recent experience in building nuclear plants said to have caused problem

What Nuclear Renaissance?

If you listen to the rhetoric, nuclear power is back. Smashing atoms will replace burning carbon-based coal, gas and oil. In the face of a disaster movie-like future of runaway climate change - bringing drought, floods, famine and social breakdown - carbon-free nukes are cast as the deus ex machina to save us at the last minute.

AECL pulls plug on reactors after millions spent

Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. suffered another embarrassing setback Friday as the country's flagship nuclear corporation when it scrapped the development of two Maple isotope-producing reactors after pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the project. The federal Crown corporation conducted tests on the reactors this spring and could not find a solution to a design flaw that would make the reactors more prone to a meltdown.