Rethinking Nuclear Power in the United States

This book explores the topic of nuclear power in the United States. Nearly three decades after the most recent order was placed for a new nuclear power plant in the U.S., several utilities are now expressing interest in building a total of up to 30 new reactors. The renewed interest in nuclear power has resulted primarily from higher prices for natural gas, improved operation of existing reactors, and uncertainty about future restrictions on coal emissions. This book compares the cost of two-fuel cycle alternatives for the current generation of thermal reactors – one alternative being direct disposal, and the other reprocessing. This book also includes analyses of the potential effect of the tax credit for nuclear power provided by the Energy Policy of 2005 and possible competitive effects of various proposals to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Under baseline assumptions, the cost of electricity from new nuclear power plants is likely to be higher than power generated by new coal- and natural gas-fired plants. This book consists of public documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access.