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Patrick Moore – paid nuclear spruiker, ignores cost isses

Nuclear power industry is plagued by problems the Philadelphia Inquirer Nov. 10, 2009 Patrick Moore’s recent op-ed (“Old foes welcome clean fuel,” Thursday) is long on optimism and short on facts. While nuclear power could play a role in reducing global warming emissions, the industry must first resolve major economic, safety, security, and waste-disposal challenges.

It’s not surprising that Moore would ignore those issues – the organization he cochairs is funded by the nuclear industry

One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is the rapidly growing cost projections for new reactors and their impact on utility credit ratings. For example, earlier this year, PPL Electric Utilities increased its cost estimate to build a new reactor at Bell Bend, Luzerne County, from $4 billion to between $13 billion and $15 billion. Shortly after that announcement, PPL’s debt rating was downgraded from stable to negative.

In the face of rising costs, the recession, greater penetration of energy efficiency programs, credit downgrades, and other pressures, out of the 26 new nuclear reactor license applications submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission since 2007, the majority have been canceled, suspended indefinitely, or delayed.Ellen VanckoElliott NeginUnion of Concerned Scientists

Letters: Nuclear power industry is plagued by problems | Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/10/2009

November 10, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, spinbuster, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radioactive