NUCLEAR POWER - Debating the Issue

"Debating the Safety, Wisdom of New Nuclear Reactors in Georgia" PBS Newshour 2/15/2012

Excerpt

JEFFREY BROWN (Newshour): Now, a big move forward for nuclear power in the U.S.

This construction site in eastern Georgia will house the nation's first new commercial nuclear reactors in decades. They're to be built at the Plant Vogtle facility, where two existing reactors have operated since the late 1980s. The plant is situated near Waynesboro, Georgia, 34 miles southeast of Augusta, 170 miles east of Atlanta.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu visited the site today to see the work in progress. Basic construction had begun more than a year ago, anticipating that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would license the new reactors, which it did last week in a vote of 4-1.

The reactors are the first to be approved since 1978, the year before the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania.

President Obama has several times called for expanding the role of nuclear energy as part of an overall national strategy.

COMMENT: Aside from the issue if SHOULD the license be held until after a guarantee of incorporation of "lessons learned" reminder, no one can predict the unknown.

Also, another excerpt

STEPHEN SMITH, executive director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy: Well, if this was a mature industry, as they claim it is, then they really shouldn't be going to the government for handouts and support.

And we think that, because of the inherent economic risk, these price tags on these reactors have absolutely skyrocketed from what they were originally proposed to do. Georgia Power in Georgia is actually having to take money from rate payers now before the reactor is even built because no one wants to invest in these things. They have to get the loan guarantees.

And it's just extremely costly and economically risky. Much of the much-touted nuclear renaissance has largely evaporated because demand is down, natural gas prices are low, energy efficiency is showing much stronger potential, renewable prices are dropping. And so we're seeing that we don't really need to go in the direction of these high-risk energy choices.

And the federal government really doesn't need to be subsidizing it if the market doesn't want to support these.

Because the demand is down at present does NOT mean it will stay down. When the demand goes up, and it will, it will be MORE costly to pay for in the future. Pay now while the financing cost is low.