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Stationary Energy

Nuclear

Nuclear power provides emissions-free energy. Nuclear plants generate more than half of the electricity in six states. Nuclear operating costs are estimated to be competitive with fossil fuel technologies and output has increased by more than one-third over the past 15 years. Congress and the Bush Administration have called for an expansion of nuclear power. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 provided incentives for investing in nuclear technology and building new nuclear plants. These include federal loan guarantees for construction costs and a nuclear energy tax credit. Several utility companies have been investing in nuclear energy and are expected to seek licenses for up to 30 new reactors. While the nuclear energy's benefits are promising, some challenges remain in the areas of plant security, the cost of decommissioning plants, accident liability and waste disposal. Congress addressed these challenges in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It enacted requirements for revising security threat plans at facilities and provides favorable tax treatment, subject to some limitations, for nuclear decommissioning costs.

Consumption: Nuclear Power currently generates about 20% of the nation's electricity. Nuclear plants generate more than half of all electricity consumed in six states.

Supply: There are currently 103 licensed reactors at 65 plant sites in 31 states. In 2005, licensed commercial reactors generated electricity at an average of 89.4% of their total capacity.

Waste disposal: The federal government is responsible for permanent disposal of commercial spent fuel and federally generated radioactive waste. States have authority to develop disposal facilities for commercial low-level waste. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act specifies the conditions under which highly radioactive waste must be stored. Yucca Mountain in Nevada is currently the only candidate site. The Department of Energy (DOE) announced in July 2006 that it would submit a Yucca Mountain license application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by June 30, 2008. According to the DOE, nuclear waste shipments to Yucca could begin by 2017.

This issue brief does not represent the viewpoint of the Energy Initiative or the positions of its individual members. This summary provides merely a starting point for the working group's education and discussion of the issue. To learn more about the working groups click here.