A Nuclear Renaissance?

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BNIF's equivalent organisation in the United States, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) held its Nuclear Energy Assembly 2001 this week (22-24 May) in Washington DC. The key note address was given by Vice-President Dick Cheney, only days after he had presented President Bush with recommendations on the future strategic direction of US energy policy. A key feature of the recommendations made by National Energy Policy Development Group chaired by Mr Cheney is the emphasis on developing a diverse range of existing energy sources - including nuclear energy - while also promoting energy conservation measures and renewable energy technologies. Against a background of power cuts in California, and the threat of interruptions to supply in other states in the summer, Mr Cheney said, "The bottom line is that we still have inadequate electricity supplies, and we have to close that gap. Given today's existing technologies, that is going to be done with coal, gas and nuclear." He told delegates: "Part of our energy policy obviously has to involve nuclear energy. One in five homes today runs on electricity generated by nuclear. We want as a matter of national policy to encourage advances in this industry." To provide that encouragement to investors and create the climate in which nuclear operators can confidently extend the operating lives of their existing plants, and contemplate applying to build new reactors, the report recommends: Encouraging the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) "to ensure that safety and environmental protection are high priorities as they prepare to evaluate and expedite applications for licensing new advanced-technology nuclear reactors". Supporting the NRC's relicensing of existing nuclear plants "that meet or exceed safety standards". Encouraging the NRC to "facilitate efforts by utilities to expand nuclear energy generation in the US by uprating existing nuclear plants safely". Increasing resources as necessary for nuclear safety enforcement in light of the potential increase in generation. Using the "best science to provide a deep geologic repository for nuclear waste". Supporting legislation "clarifying that qualified funds set aside by plant owners for eventual decommissioning will not be taxed as part of the transaction". In addition, the report called on the nuclear industry to consider the benefits of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel which could optimise the geological disposal of nuclear waste. Although there have been no new nuclear orders in the US for over 35 years, substantial improvements in output mean that nuclear energy supplies 20% of US electricity. At the same time, safety has improved, production costs have fallen, and nuclear is the largest source of emission-free electricity generation in the US. The NEI welcomed the report, saying that it "identified nuclear energy as an indispensable source of emission-free, bulk electricity." As NEI Chairman, Christian Poindexter, remarked in his opening address to the Assembly: "… as of now, nuclear is a vital part of our energy future."

 

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