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Finacial cold water thrown on USA plan for small nuclear reactors

“It’s going to come down to cost,” said Johnson. If a 100-MW plant will have to need the same size security and operating staff as a 1,000-MW unit, he said, “that’s going to make it difficult.”…..

Utilities split over small nuclear reactor economics Washington (Platts)–18Feb2011 Despite enthusiasm among nuclear reactor vendors and the Obama administration about the potential of small nuclear reactors, some utilities remain to be convinced of their economic viability.

Bill Johnson, CEO, chairman and president of Progress Energy said Thursday the company is unlikely to build small nuclear reactors in the next two decades, even though some vendors hope to make such units commercially available by 2020……
“It’s going to come down to cost,” said Johnson. If a 100-MW plant will have to need the same size security and operating staff as a 1,000-MW unit, he said, “that’s going to make it difficult.”…..
The White House’s budget proposal, unveiled Monday, has requested $97 million for the DOE to accelerate commercial deployment of small reactor technologies. Utilities split over small nuclear reactor economics – Electric Power | Platts News Article & Story

February 19, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, technology, USA