Posted on 09/01/2006 10:32:36 PM PDT by FairOpinion
As U.S. demand for energy continues to grow, a top American nuclear official says the United States is seriously considering stepping up its reliance on nuclear power. As Nuclear power already accounts for 20 percent of the U.S. electricity supply.
The last nuclear plant to open in the United States was 10 years ago. The new chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Dale Klein, indicated that since U.S. demand for electricity remains strong, nuclear power generation is once again a serious option.
"But one of the reasons in the United States that we're looking at building new nuclear plants is because the electrical demand is growing, concern on global warning and the unpredictability of fossil fuel costs," he added.
Other countries that have significant nuclear energy generating programs include France, Japan, Russia and Germany.
(Excerpt) Read more at voanews.com ...
"What is the count of new US nuke plants begun? Last number I saw was eight."
There hasn't been a nuke plant even sent in for consideration for almost 20 years IIRC.
Eight have begun since this time last year, unless there are more.
Thanks for the info.
Very interesting, that we are using hardly any oil for our electricity generation.
If we could drill in ANWR and off shore, we could be energy independent.
None have begun since this time last year. ZERO. Planning has begun, but no orders have been placed.
Look up his bio. I think he understands it better than you do.
Depends what begin means. Duke has begun work on three.
Exactly. It takes years. And US electric demand is not likely to go down, which means we need to start NOW.
Good observations. I was young at the time of Three Mile Island but old enough to remember when some terrified relatives from Harrisburg fled to our place in NJ for safety.
That's what I was referring to - some of the very same people who experienced that episide cannot rationally adjust to changed circumstances. At the time of TMI (I think it was a Dr. Denton) a prominent nuclear physicist tried to calm people -- to no avail.
"Eight have begun since this time last year, unless there are more."
Nuclear plants??? Your source of info?
About damn time.
Fusion Energy is clean and efficent.
Agree completely! Its PAST time.
However, the Enviro-Luddites will either start with their usual stalling tactics and demonstrations then, if the nuclear energy policy gets any traction, they'll get so many provisions added on through lobbying as to make any plants unworkable or uneconomical.
Sorry for the pesimism.
I am just keeping count. Aside from the three from my company Duke there are five other tally marks on the wall.
Lots of talk. No firm orders.
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