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MSNBC Does a Special on Nuclear Power
Jan. 24th, 2007 04:25 pmSome say "renaissance", I say "re-animation". As the saying goes, "A billion here and a billion there ... pretty soon it adds up to real money." Now that the Democrats are in charge of Congress, expect more support for renewables and conservation but don't expect much of a change from the previous pro-nuclear position of their political opposition.
The fix is in on nuclear, imo.
This is a very detailed five part series of articles on nuclear power that's definitely worth a read.
Power Play: New Dawn for Nuclear Energy? - MSNBC.com
Part 1: New Nuclear Power ‘Wave’ — or Just a Ripple?
How millions for lobbying, campaigns helped fuel U.S. industry's big plans
"With his [Bush's] signature [of the Energy Policy Act of 2005], billions in federal assistance flowed from Bush’s pen into the nuclear 'renaissance,' including:
* $3 billion in research subsidies.
* More than $3 billion in construction subsidies for new nuclear power plants.
* Nearly $6 billion in operating tax credits.
* More than $1 billion in subsidies to decommission old plants.
* A 20-year extension of liability caps for accidents at nuclear plants.
* Federal loan guarantees for the construction of new power plants."
"Companies in the energy and natural resources sectors, which includes nuclear power, and their employees, have donated $212.2 million to the campaigns of federal candidates since 2000 alone, three-fourths of it to Republicans."
"Since 1989, Domenici has received $384,923 from electric utilities [...]. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., who succeeded Domenici as chairman of the Senate Energy Committee in January, got $406,576....
Part 2: Sen. Pete Domenici: Nuclear Renaissance Man
Long-serving lawmaker is driving force behind U.S. industry's rebirth
"And the [$1.5 billion] 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."
"The senator’s signature achievement was winning passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which contained $85 billion in subsidies and taxbreaks across all energy sectors, including $13 billion for nuclearpower."
Part 3: U.S. Plan for Nuclear Cartel Faces Reality Check
Expense, technical challenges threaten to keep GNEP in starting gate
"A study by the National Academy of Sciences estimated that reprocessing the approximately 62,000 tons of spent commercial fuel now in existence would cost as much as $100 billion more than placing it in a repository like Yucca Mountain. Like Lyman, [pro-nuclear Harvard expert Matthew] Bunn flatly disagreed that new reprocessing technology removes the risk of proliferation, calling that notion “a talking point, not a serious analysis.”
Part 4: Nuclear energy's French connection
Ambitious Areva is second to none at American-style power politics
"...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."
"'They’re trying to get a federal government subsidy handed over to a French (government-owned) corporation to build reactors here in the United States.'”
Part 5: Does Nuclear Power Now Make Financial Sense?
Industry must persuade Wall St. that new advantages translate to profits
"The economics of building nuclear power plants began to short-circuit in the 1970s, after a building boom that lasted more than a decade.Part of the problem was the widespread use of so-called “cost-plus” contracts, in which the companies building plants were not held to a fixed price..."
"Congress has provided loan guarantees for 80 percent of the financing for the first several projects to win NRC approval. But that critical guarantee has already hit a serious snag."
"... the first proposals for nuclear plants will most likely come in Southern states, where utility commissions still allow companies to recapture their construction and development costs from ratepayers."
Interactive: Yucca Mountain Project
Interactive: How Nuclear Power Plants Work
Live Vote: More subsidies for nuclear power?
Live Vote: Is nuclear 'renaissance' warranted?
Test Your Knowledge of All Things Nuclear
Hurrah! I scored 100% on the test!!
Some of them were pretty hard and I changed a couple before scoring it. Fortunately the right couple.
The fix is in on nuclear, imo.
This is a very detailed five part series of articles on nuclear power that's definitely worth a read.
Power Play: New Dawn for Nuclear Energy? - MSNBC.com
Part 1: New Nuclear Power ‘Wave’ — or Just a Ripple?
How millions for lobbying, campaigns helped fuel U.S. industry's big plans
"With his [Bush's] signature [of the Energy Policy Act of 2005], billions in federal assistance flowed from Bush’s pen into the nuclear 'renaissance,' including:
* $3 billion in research subsidies.
* More than $3 billion in construction subsidies for new nuclear power plants.
* Nearly $6 billion in operating tax credits.
* More than $1 billion in subsidies to decommission old plants.
* A 20-year extension of liability caps for accidents at nuclear plants.
* Federal loan guarantees for the construction of new power plants."
"Companies in the energy and natural resources sectors, which includes nuclear power, and their employees, have donated $212.2 million to the campaigns of federal candidates since 2000 alone, three-fourths of it to Republicans."
"Since 1989, Domenici has received $384,923 from electric utilities [...]. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., who succeeded Domenici as chairman of the Senate Energy Committee in January, got $406,576....
Part 2: Sen. Pete Domenici: Nuclear Renaissance Man
Long-serving lawmaker is driving force behind U.S. industry's rebirth
"And the [$1.5 billion] 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."
"The senator’s signature achievement was winning passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which contained $85 billion in subsidies and taxbreaks across all energy sectors, including $13 billion for nuclearpower."
Part 3: U.S. Plan for Nuclear Cartel Faces Reality Check
Expense, technical challenges threaten to keep GNEP in starting gate
"A study by the National Academy of Sciences estimated that reprocessing the approximately 62,000 tons of spent commercial fuel now in existence would cost as much as $100 billion more than placing it in a repository like Yucca Mountain. Like Lyman, [pro-nuclear Harvard expert Matthew] Bunn flatly disagreed that new reprocessing technology removes the risk of proliferation, calling that notion “a talking point, not a serious analysis.”
Part 4: Nuclear energy's French connection
Ambitious Areva is second to none at American-style power politics
"...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."
"'They’re trying to get a federal government subsidy handed over to a French (government-owned) corporation to build reactors here in the United States.'”
Part 5: Does Nuclear Power Now Make Financial Sense?
Industry must persuade Wall St. that new advantages translate to profits
"The economics of building nuclear power plants began to short-circuit in the 1970s, after a building boom that lasted more than a decade.Part of the problem was the widespread use of so-called “cost-plus” contracts, in which the companies building plants were not held to a fixed price..."
"Congress has provided loan guarantees for 80 percent of the financing for the first several projects to win NRC approval. But that critical guarantee has already hit a serious snag."
"... the first proposals for nuclear plants will most likely come in Southern states, where utility commissions still allow companies to recapture their construction and development costs from ratepayers."
Interactive: Yucca Mountain Project
Interactive: How Nuclear Power Plants Work
Live Vote: More subsidies for nuclear power?
Live Vote: Is nuclear 'renaissance' warranted?
Test Your Knowledge of All Things Nuclear
Hurrah! I scored 100% on the test!!
Some of them were pretty hard and I changed a couple before scoring it. Fortunately the right couple.
