As a lazy man who likes to repurpose his work whenever possible, I want to share a note that I just sent to some of my nuclear friends who question my analysis about the actions of fossil fuel interests to restrain the growth of nuclear energy.

Rod, I have never been a big fan of conspiracy theories. Particularly those that claim the fossil fuel industry is blocking nuclear power. I think most industrialists are about making money.

The leaders of all commodity businesses spend a good deal of time thinking about things like “overcapacity”, “supply and demand”, erecting barriers to entry, and beating their competition. You are correct that they are “about making money”, but the rise and fall of market prices as a result of those factors play a huge role in how much money they make each day.

That is not “conspiracy theory” talk anymore than it would be conspiracy theory talk to note that members of the New York Giants spend tens of hours per week, even during their off season, studying “film” of their opponents, trying to identify weaknesses and figuring out ways to take advantage of their own strengths in order to come up with as many Ws as possible.

Unlike most nuclear people, I have spent a fair amount of time in board rooms, strategy sessions, marketing meetings, and investor presentations. In addition, I developed a hobby of investing and reading the business press when I was just a plebe at the Naval Academy.
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