Nuclear renaissance Nuclear energy policy of the United States

1 nuclear renaissance

1.1 energy policy act of 2005
1.2 implementation of energy act of 2005
1.3 advanced nuclear technology act of 2017

nuclear renaissance

the nuclear renaissance of nuclear energy in america denotes time period political legislation passed promote expansion of nuclear power in united states. second age started passing of energy policy act of 2005, made significant changes in nuclear policy , funding options nuclear energy. congress hoped act encourage utility companies install more reactors , build more nuclear plants meet demands of country s growing energy needs.

energy policy act of 2005

august 8, 2005, president george w. bush signed energy policy act of 2005 law shortly after passed in senate 74–26 margin , in house 275–156 margin. focus provide funding , tax breaks producers , consumers alike. although provided many incentives individual consumers , green energy technology, nuclear energy gained concessions. following incentives nuclear energy:

production tax credit of 2.1 ¢/kwh first 6,000 mwe of new nuclear capacity in first 8 years of operation.
federal risk insurance of $2 billion cover regulatory delays in full-power operation of first 6 advanced new plants.
rationalized tax on decommissioning funds.
federal loan guarantees advanced nuclear reactors or other emission-free technologies 80% of project cost.
extension 20 years of price anderson act nuclear liability protection.
support advanced nuclear technology.
$1.25 billion authorized advanced high-temperature reactor (next generation nuclear plant) @ idaho national laboratory, capable of co-generating hydrogen. overall, more $2 billion provided hydrogen demonstration projects. called nuclear power 2010 program.

in total, on $5 billion, extensive tax breaks, designated nuclear funding, far more put forth loan guarantees. within actual legislation, secretary of interior charged carrying out legislation. in matter of new funding next-generation reactors, secretary s decision should in line recommendations of nuclear energy research advisory committee in report entitled roadmap deploy new nuclear power plants in united states 2010. in other sections, secretary required work director of nuclear energy, science , technology in department of energy. legislation jump-started nuclear industry again firmly establishing alternate energy source politicians wanted. moreover, provided financial backing building, tax incentives, risk insurance, , repealed public utility holding company act of 1935 allowed utility companies merge.

soon after passage, washington post critically analyzed legislation , found nuclear industry received serious concessions government in environmental policy act of 2005. wrote:

bill s biggest winner nuclear industry, received billions of dollars in subsidies , tax breaks covering every facet of operations. there subsidies research new reactor designs, fusion energy, small-particle accelerators , reprocessing nuclear waste, reverse current u.s. policy. rep. ralph hall (r-tex.) inserted $250,000 provision research using radiation refine oil...the bill included $2 billion risk insurance in case new nuclear plants run construction , licensing delays. , nuclear utilities eligible taxpayer-backed loan guarantees of as 80 percent cost of plants.

implementation of energy act of 2005

locations of new reactor cores , nuclear plants

the implementation of funding, loan guarantees, , more advanced research sole responsibly of doe. in 2008, doe began accepting applications utility companies funding of construction promised in 2005 legislation. originally, loan guarantees totaled $18.5 billion nuclear power plants, , 2 billion on uranium enriched plants. provide funding nuclear companies, proposed plants first need approved nrc initial construction.

currently, there 26 known applications 17 different utility companies (18 before duke power , progress energy merged), 17 of have been approved or accepted approval nrc. of these nrc approvals, there 14 newly proposed nuclear power plants, , 21 new reactor cores installed in existing facilities, using 5 different designs (as of 2011). furthermore, doe received 2 applications uranium enriched power plants.

as of march 21, 2011 nrc has expected 2 new applications filed in 2012 2 companies, blue castle project in utah , callaway county in missouri. if sites come online, 28,800 mwe per year added power grid. these companies requested loan guarantees totaling far more budgeted $18.5 billion. in total, requested , additional $122 billion, bring overall projected production cost $188 billion. uranium enriched power plants requested total of $4 billion, later accepted both nrc , doe. provided loan guarantees encourage private lenders fund these companies.

in essence, government promising protect lenders against 80% of potential loss, , legitimatizes investment first having doe review applications. moreover, because guarantees, not considered government appropriations; no taxpayer dollars spent unless loans fall through in failed investment. therefore, congressional approval easier get.

because of enormous costs involved, nuclear industry requested more loan guarantees government, totaling $100 billion. in february 2010, president obama, ran on pro-nuclear platform, negotiated companies , added $36 billion budgeted $18.5 billion, bringing total of $54.5 billion presidential 2011 budget doe loans. doe sought $9 billion though other legislation utility companies, southern company , oglethorpe power plant vogtle in georgia, 3 other plants installation of 5 proposed reactor cores.

on april 19, 2011, new york times reported nrg energy has ended construction of 2 largest proposed nuclear plants in south texas. nrg claims write off $331 million investment loss , according david crane nrg s ceo, unless situation changes, chance of continuing “extremely daunting , @ point not particularly likely.”. though plan south texas project 3 , 4 reactors, , identified more 2 years ago energy department 1 of 4 candidates loan guarantees authorized 2005 energy act,

nrg notes there surplus in texas of natural gas utilities , nuclear incident in japan has led further funding problems facilities. although nrg still plans on paying full licensing costs nrc 2 proposed facilities, crane told dallas news if project resurrected, “it have fueled else’s financial resources.” halting of construction of these reactors marks second of 4 die; calvert cliffs 3, in maryland, seems unlikely @ point, because constellation energy not reach financial terms energy department. department has granted conditional loan guarantee 1 project in georgia , may give project in south carolina.

advanced nuclear technology act of 2017

the house passed advanced nuclear technology act of 2017 on january 23, 2017.