Reactor Reax Top Stories - Five Facts That Sink Nuclear Power

(WASHINGTON DC) - 5 Facts That Sink Nuclear Power, Motley Fool, February 21, 2013. "There's a reason natural gas, wind, and solar power are now the most popular new power generation assets in the U.S. -- they're cost effective. One thing that nuclear advocates never fully discuss is the cost of a nuclear plant or how much the power coming out of it will cost.If you think government subsidies are bad in wind or solar you haven't seen anything yet. The government explicitly limits the liability nuclear power plant owners have, which is the only way any nuclear plant is ever built. Without limited liability insurers wouldn't touch solar and investors wouldn't give the funding companies need."

Vogtle is progressing but nuclear revival is not, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 17, 2013. "The stakes were high for Georgia Power and its parent, Atlanta-based Southern Co., which became responsible for showing the nation that the nuclear industry could build two reactors without major technical problems, delays or cost overruns. Consumers already were on the hook, paying for Georgia Power's $6.1 billion portion of the project through a fee on their monthly utility bills. The $14 billion Vogtle expansion in Waynesboro - one of the largest economic development initiatives in state history - is behind schedule, and the nuclear revival hasn't worked out the way the industry had hoped. Ample supplies of cheap natural gas and the sluggish economy are enemies No. 1 and 2. Widespread extraction of natural gas is making it the fuel of choice for utilities, which have little demand for new power plants in a weak economy."

Florida legislators hope to fix nuclear advance fee law, Tampa Bay Times, February 20, 2013. "Five years ago, Peter Bradford warned that a Florida law allowing utilities to charge customers in advance for nuclear power projects could have 'ruinous economic impacts.' It did. Now Bradford, a former member of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, has a message for state lawmakers who today will announce plans to fix the law. They can't. Not in any way that would both significantly help utility customers and still get nuclear plants built, Bradford said. Utilities won't accept changes that shift the financial burden back onto them.

Fla. senators eye changes in nuclear utility rates, Associated Press, February 21, 2013. "Four Republican state senators Thursday announced plans to seek changes in a Florida law that lets utilities charge customers for future nuclear power plant construction even if it never gets built. A House member sponsoring repeal legislation, though, said the Tampa Bay area lawmakers' proposal won't work because it doesn't go far enough and utilities will find a way around their revisions."

Kewaunee Power Station clears hurdle to closing, Green Bay Press Gazette, February 20, 2013. "Midwest Independent System Operators said closure of the Kewaunee Power Station will not hinder electricity reliability, leading owner Dominion Resources Inc. to said it will proceed with plans to shut the nuclear plant in the second quarter.Dominion announced in October it would shut the one-reactor Kewaunee Power Station in spring 2013. It cited the low cost of producing electricity and soon-to-expire agreements for selling the plant's output as reasons for the closing. It had tried for 18 months to sell the plant, but failed to find a buyer."