There are a few solar assist manufacturers, however, this month's Popular Mechanics details one you can build yourself. I used to have one when I lived in Texas. Why ask for a tax break to install one? If it makes economic sense, then go ahead and install it. Usually the economics work out only in the southern and southwestern states where hot water is made using electric heaters.
Yeah, 5 years approval is due this time to manpower constraints in the NRC. Like the nuke biz everwhere in the US, it is suffering from a massive wave of retirements and has only recently started hiring lots of new college grads. The plants themselves are to be turnkey and modular, and are expected to take 5 years to complete. This time, there will be NO customization, standard plant only (No Coke, Pepsi). We don't expect to get started building until 2010, as it will take us a couple of years to finish the detailed designs and get manufacturers and construction craft ready.
http://www.ap1000.westinghousenuclear.com/
Thank goodness!!! Is B&W still in the biz? Had a suite mate, Dave N. that graduated from NCSU in NE and he went to work for them.
Standard modular design should have been in the first place....much like, and I hate to say it, the Frog's program. The French were smart to do that.
From your link:
The AP1000 has 50 percent fewer valves, 83 percent less piping, 87 percent less control cable, 35 percent fewer pumps and 50 percent less seismic building volume than a similarly sized conventional plant. These reductions in equipment and bulk quantities lead to major savings in plant costs and construction schedules.
That will help a whole lot with cost/kW. BTW, I'm a little confused....what is a MWe? Megawatt=====??????
Also, I've always really liked Westinghouse's residential/industrial electrical components, not to mention their residential appliances. Good quality and reliable service...always.