NUCLEAR BOOM

As profiled on last night's 60 Minutes.

Global Nuclear Boom Expected
Ben Lando, April 6, 2007 (UPI)

WHO
Report by Cambridge Energy Research Associates, world-recognized authority on energy markets (and generally repugnant to Peak Oilers) pertaining to nuclear power owners and developers worldwide

WHAT
- A “renaissance” in the construction and coming on-line of nuclear power plants. Reactor projects are in active states of near readiness, from permitting and planning to construction phases. Vocal opposition over the issue of nuclear waste storage and the possibility of a new nuclear plant accident are significant obstacles.
- World: 435 reactors=16% of electricity; U.S.: 103 reactors=20% of electricity

WHEN
China: from 9 gigawatts of nuclear capapcity to 40 gigawatts by 2020. The U.S. has not built a new plant since 1978 but is expected have as many as a dozen plants coming on-line between 2015 and 2020.

WHERE
Atomstroyexport of Russia is actively developing nuclear reactors in India, China, Iran, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. Also: Finland, France, Britain, Australia and Germany. And the United States.

WHY
New plants replace older structures with more reliable, more efficient technology which creates significantly less waste. They also produce electricity without generating greenhouse gases or increased costs. In the face of rising demand, higher fuel costs, oil money finding its way to jihadists and the fright of global warming, the terrors of Three Mile Island and Chernobyl seem less threatening, especially when nuclear industry spokespeople promise new generations of technology that is safer. And especially when federal incentives, such as the Price-Anderson Act makes it possible for the nuclear industry to do business without worrying about the cost of insurance against disaster.

QUOTES
"We see good prospects," said CERA Senior Director Jone-Lin Wang, co-author of "Is the 'Nuclear Renaissance' Real?" "There are hurdles… I'll be very surprised if the U.S. does not make a decision to build within the next five years…I think the U.S. looks very promising. It's a matter of how big of a build it is…"\The key is how well you can manage the construction and manage the cost…"