[CGTRWK]

And if a $200-per-ton tax was imposed on carbon emissions, nuclear energy would become cheaper than coal from new plants.

Coal burning electrical generation in the US releases around 2 billion tons of CO2 per year, producing around 2 trillion kWh of electricity. A $200-per-ton tax on those emissions would be around 400 billion dollars per year, or 20 cents per kWh.

The actual production cost for coal powered electricity is around 2 cents per kWh, so this greenie weenie tax would represent a 1000% markup. Of course this would make nuclear power cheaper by comparison. Even solar power would be cheaper.

[CFC__VRWC]

And if a $200-per-ton tax was imposed on carbon emissions, nuclear energy would become cheaper than coal from new plants.

Aha! Now we get to it - there's a new tax to be levied! That explains Kristof's 180.