nuclear-news

Collusion between nuclear regulators and nuclear industry in Japan

Perverse Power in Japan, WSJ 17 July 11, “……..The main incentive in Japan was to continue to build more power plants, especially sprawling multibillion-dollar nuclear facilities, because higher costs meant more profits for the utilities and large budgets for the trade and industry ministry, which both regulates and actively promotes nuclear power. For politicians, it produced fat payouts to rural coastal areas hosting nuclear plants and the electoral support of electric utilities in the hinterlands, where they carry much clout.

Regulators theoretically could force utilities to pay more attention to costs because they vet electricity rates, but they haven’t because the status quo suits the nuclear family just fine….http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304521304576448471896943828.html

July 19, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general