nuclear-news

No utility executive could propose a nuclear reactor ”in good conscience” – industry executive

Another Giant Declares Nuclear Dead In Fracking America, Forbes, Jeff McMahon, 9 Dec 14, No utility executive could propose a nuclear reactor ”in good conscience” in the U.S. today, the director emeritus of Argonne National Laboratory said in Chicago Monday.

Alan Schriesheim became the first industry executive to lead a national laboratory when he took the helm of Argonne in 1983, after serving as Exxon’s head of engineering and the director of its research lab, which developed more efficient processes for producing components of gasoline. At Argonne he championed, among other projects, an integral fast reactor  and he is credited with fostering a revival at Argonne. …….

“In the United States the price of natural gas is of such a level that I don’t think a CEO of a utility could in good conscience propose a nuclear-power reactor to his or her board of directors,” Schriesheim told about 75 students at UIC’s engineering building.

Nuclear is infeasible for the next 10 or 15 years in this country, he said, with the price of natural gas as it is.

“It’s the up-front cost of nuclear construction that really gets you. It’s a very large up-front cost. ….

December 10, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general