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Monday, February 14th, 2022

U.S. Energy Department Advances $6 bln Nuclear Plant Program

Author:     Timothy Garner
Source:     Reuters
Publication Date:     February 11, 202212:50 PM PST
 Link: U.S. Energy Department Advances $6 bln Nuclear Plant Program
Stephan:   You would think after the disasters of Chernobyl and Fukushima, and the growing problem of nuclear waste that intelligent government planners would decide to let nuclear wither and waste away. But, of course, the corporations that control the nuclear industry still have the power and funds to rent Congress members, and influence the Biden administration, and this $6 billion commitment to nuclear is an example of how that plays out to their benefit.
One of the two now closed reactors of the San Onofre nuclear generating station located south of San Clemente, California.
Credit: Reuters/Mike Blake

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy said on Friday it is seeking input from utilities, communities and advocates as it develops its new program to boost struggling nuclear power plants with $6 billion in credits.

The bipartisan infrastructure bill passed last year tasked the DOE with creating the Civil Nuclear Credit Program to distribute the credits to nuclear plants.

Nuclear power generates power virtually free of emissions blamed for climate change, but the industry has lost 12 reactors since 2013 amid competition from renewable energy and plants that burn plentiful natural gas. In addition, safety costs have soared after the 2011 tsunami at Japan’s Fukushima plant.

“We’re moving as fast as we can,” Andrew Griffith, the DOE deputy assistant secretary for nuclear fuel cycle and supply chain said in an interview about implementation of the credit program. “But we also want to get it right.” The law intends to help reactors in states with competitive […]

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