John Wheeler, the host of This Week in Nuclear Podcast, Kelly Taylor, a stay at home mom with 21 years of experience in nuclear power plant work, and Rod Adams chat about nuclear prospects in 2008
On New Year’s Eve morning, John Wheeler, Kelly Taylor and I got together for a chat about the nuclear industry’s prospects for 2008. We agreed that the year would be an interesting one for nuclear power, with additional license applications, more attention from discussions during the US Presidential campaign, and increasing opportunities for employment for people who want to work in a safe, clean, challenging, high tech environment.
We all agreed that the industry is one where errors are not overlooked, where talented young people can find rewarding work, and where people who have left the industry during its challenging times of the late 1980s and 1990s may find new opportunities.
We made a few predictions, talked about the potential applications for smaller plants, and generally agreed that now is a great time to be a nuke.
John also posted a version of the conversation as Episode 54 – Happy Nuke Year!!.
Anyone who listens to both and can point out the difference wins a $20 iTunes gift certificate!
Hope you all have a happy healthy and prosperous Nuke Year!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:34 — 19.8MB)
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This quote in the Sierra Magazine Jan.-Feb. issue from Amory Lovins. “So the government can continue to subsidize the industry, says Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute, but the effect”will be the same as defibrillating a corpse: It will jump, but it will not revive.”
A table with cost/kWh for several energy sources is given but nuclear is left out. A footnote in small print reads:
What about nuclear? The U.S. Energy Information Administration calculates that the cost of nuclear power is 5.9 cents per kilowatt hour–but that includes massive federal subsidies. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute without these subsides nuclear power could not compete with energy efficiency and renewables.
A big point is made that nuclear has received about one half of all R&D subsidies. What is not told is that nuclear has received about 10% of all subsidies to the energy sector. R&D subsidies account for only 19% of subsidies the energy sector according to the Management Information Service Inc.