Your link (see text below) lists three items as show stoppers for the nuclear industry. #1 is the insurance. That has not cost the taxpayers a single penney. In fact, utilities have poured millions into the fund which is held by the government. #2 is the federal disposal of waste. That has not cost the taxpayers a single penney. In fact, utilities have poured millions into the fund which is held by the government. #3 is ‘greasing the skids’. This is NOT funding and the use of the term ‘greasing the skids’ is indicative that the author has a gripe with the nuclear industry and his emotions are clouding the facts.
In fact, a recent report by Scully Capital Services, an investment banking and financial services firm, commissioned by the Department of Energy (DOE), highlighted three federal subsidies and regulations — termed “show stoppers” — without which the industry would grind to a halt. These “show stoppers” include the Price Anderson Act, which limits the liability of the nuclear industry in case of a serious nuclear accident — leaving taxpayers on the hook for potentially hundreds of billions in compensation costs; federal disposal of nuclear waste in a permanent repository, which will save the industry billions at taxpayer expense; and licensing regulations, wherein the report recommends that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission further grease the skids of its quasi-judicial licensing process to preclude successful interventions from opponents.
“#2 is the federal disposal of waste. That has not cost the taxpayers a single penney. “
Correct me if I am wrong, but $10 billion in tax dollars has been spent on the characterization of Yucca Mountain, before that idiot Reid killed it.
I am all for nukes and say build, build build. But, I would like to see the industry stand on its own economically. I believe there will come a time when the economics will look very good for nukes. I spent many years in the oil exploration business and I do believe in peak oil.