Support Grows for Nuclear Power Plants

Rasmussen Reports ^ | August 16, 2005 | Rasmussen Reports

[JoeFromSidney]

but we need to move forward agressively with nuke power -- the price per kilowatt hour cannot be touched with any other method that yields the amount of power one plant alone can generate...

Although I've been in favor of nuclear power for years, I'm still not certain about the economics. The morning paper (DAYTON DAILY NEWS) carried an article about the "failure" of deregulation of electric power in Ohio. It seems that only consumers in the northeastern part of the state are choosing new suppliers, while those in the southwestern part (where I live) are not (I haven't). The article stated that the reason was that electric rates in the Northeast are higher than in the Southwest because more power in the Northeast comes from nuclear plants, while that in the Southwest comes from coal-fired plants. The alleged reason for higher cost of nuclear-generated electricity was the higher capital cost of nuclear plants.

Anyone got any good figures on the relative economics of nuclear and coal as sources of electicity?

[EagleUSA]

I work in the power industry and can tell you that if we began designing a new nuke in the USA today, it most likely wouldn't go on line for 7-10 years later. This is due to the extreme amount of documentation and the permitting processes associated with this kind of work. Or to put it another way, government RED TAPE.
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Yes, and that is why we should start building ASAP!! The government of this country is remiss and incompetent in its DUTY to ensure this country has the resources to maintain its economy and its security. It is about time they stand up and start doing their job, no matter what it takes.

[AFPhys]

Support Grows for Nuclear Power Plants

Survey of 1,500 Adults

August 12-14, 2005

...time for the United States to begin building nuclear power plants again?
Yes	55%
No	24%
RasmussenReports.com

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Which is more important in the long run… conserving energy or developing new sources of energy?
Conserving Energy	26%
Developing New Sources	64%
RasmussenReports.com

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Suppose the United States had to choose...
Relying on oil imports from the Middle East	19%
Building new nuclear power plants	54%
RasmussenReports.com

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[Publius6961]

Where can I sign the petition?

[EagleUSA]

http://republican.sen.ca.gov/web/mcclintock/article_detail.asp?PID=175

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Just for starters. There is alot of cost data on the net...Google away!!!

[SJSAMPLE]

As a Michigander, I remember when the Midland nuclear plant had to be converted to a cogen plant because of all the red tape and overruns. IIRC, they had to rip up half of the plant to repour the concrete. Finally gave up and now it's gas-fired. Wasted BILLIONS.

[samadams2000]

We should build them in the inner cities using this newfangled eminant domain rulling. Kills many birds with one stone. Jobs program, blight reduction, urban renewal, and of course..POWER!

[Wonder Warthog]

"I always wanted more nuke plants. I had the opportunity of sitting on the edge of a TRIGA bathtub uranium reactor and seeing the Cerenkov radiation with my own eyes as it lit up the core."

Ditto that. My experience was at U. of Texas (Austin). Cool "nuclear flash bulb".

[RadioAstronomer]

U of Ill. for me. :-)

[Tequila25]

"A combination nuclear/desalination/electrical generating plant off the Cali coast gets my vote!"

Don't forget the hydrogen generation possibilities as well. Combine it with some more efficient hydrogen fuel cells and we can start weaning ourselves off the oil teat.

I think the greenie types are finally getting around to realize just how environmentally friendly nuclear power can be. One of the original founders of Greenpeace is now a big backer for nuclear. They call him a traitor, of course.

[SJSAMPLE]

Of course, the relatively new cry of "Environmental Racism" would be heard. Chemical, power and disposal plants have been located in blighted or poor neighborhoods because of available land, taxes and a historical lack of resistance.

[markman46]

we could have Desal plant down here in Orange County (huntington beach) but the enviro's and HB wingnuts done't want it to mare their coast. the proprose Desal is right next to a power plant.

[FOG724]

I truly envy some of the stuff you've done.

[Peach]

Thanks for posting this. It's about time we got smart about this.

[ApplegateRanch]

Yes, but even 90% suupport isn't enough, since only 1 environut and 3 judges can kill any project, even if only by nickle & diming it to death with delaying tactics.

Time for the public to demand, "Enough is enough! Pass some judge proof enabling legislation!"

[Steely Tom]

Wow. That sounds like a great experience. As long as the Cerenkov radiation wasn't originating within your eyeball.

I Googled "TRIGA reactor" The elevation diagram of the reactor housing bears an uncanny resemblance to the nuclear reactor in the Bat Cave of the 1960's "Batman" show.

(steely)

[GoldCountryRedneck]

Solar's alright but NUKES do it ALL night!

*LOL*! Very good; that needs to be a bumber sticker!!

[monday]

"Okay Americans...with attention spans about as long as a Road Runner cartoon...let's break ground on a whole bunch of new nuclear power plants that will be on line in about 10 years. That'll get the $3/gallon price down by Saturday. /sarc"

Late is better than never. If we don't start sometime it will never get done.

[cogitator]

Much expected, and much welcomed, news. Let's get a shovel into the ground for these plants. I wonder if they are some old oil-burners that could be converted?

[yobid]

It is about time they stand up and start doing their job, no matter what it takes

Because utilities are privately owned entities it's the utilities that have been reluctant to cough up the 2-3 billion $ it takes to cover all scenarios regarding design/eng/construct. The government has the power to guarantee that delays and overruns won't happen but as an investor, utilities are not willing to take the chance and once again get caught holding the bag with multi-billion dollar boondoggle. The last nuke I worked on (under construction) was estimated at 23 million dollars in the 70's. Twenty years later it was at 2,5 billion and counting w/o generating 1 kw of juice. It finally went on line and the good people of Texas are paying for it in their electric bills.