nuclear-news

Nuclear free USA – a good business plan for America

Should the U.S. Go Nuclear-Free? The Motley Fool, By Justin Loiseau   September 20, 2013 For the second time since the Fukushima disaster and the third time in over 40 years, Japan is entirely nuclear-free. With proponents and opponents battling fiercely over the future of nuclear power in Japan, let’s take a look at whether the United States should be nuclear-free….

….With the recent rise of natural gas and renewables, a decline in nuclear might not seem so bad. Natural gas has already surpassed coal as our largest source of electricity, and wind power alone is expected to triple capacity in the next three years. Crude oil is a relic of the past for electricity, and we’ve managed fine with recent coal closures………

If the United States said no to nuclear, we’d be in a tight spot. Nuclear provides cheap baseload electricity with enviable consistency. But there are advantages to a nuclear-free nation. If supportive policy jumps in to save the day, the generation gap could put the U.S. on a fast track to ramping up alternative energies. Duke Energy’s (NYSE: DUK  ) recent win for wind energy storage would need a massive influx of R&D to expand beyond a 36 MW battery, and new energy sources like Dominion‘s (NYSE: D  )  long-term lease for offshore wind would need a timelier timeline than ten years from now.

Our nation would also need to take a hard look at its power system, decentralizing generation via smart investments in smart grid technology……… http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/09/20/should-the-us-go-nuclear-free.aspx

September 21, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general