nuclear-news

Nuclear plants remain costly even after they’re closed

Nuke Plant Worker Admits That Plants Are At Their Life Expectancy and Bean Counters Short Change Maintenance http://nukeprofessional.blogspot.com.au/

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150220/OPINION/150219883?cachebust=BNYA#comment-2094841278  ——————————————————————–R Harden •
I worked at the Byron nuke plant for 29 years. The truth is, this plant, and others like it, have just about out lived their life expectancy. It’s going to close someday whether we like it or not. It has been modified, repaired, equipment replaced and systems up-dated. There is only so much you can do to preserve it’s existence and overall health. Like anything man made, it will have an end. The bean counters for Exelon figure cost verses income. Once the plant becomes more expense than profit, it will probably be shut down.

Technology has come along way since these old dinosaurs were built, and with the cost of nuclear power, they won’t survive. The Zion Nuclear Plant was closed many years ago because of this reason. It cost more to operate than it could make on paper.The real issue I see, is the cost of the spent nuclear fuel that is stored on site. Closing these sites does not get rid of that problem and the expense.

These sites will still require security, maintenance, insurance, taxes, and more, to a plant that has no income. These cost will be there for many, many years, until the fuel finds a new home somewhere else. They told us, spent nuclear fuel has a 2500 year, half life. No one else wants the spent fuel. That’s why it’s stored on site. Who will pay for this clean up is a good guess, but it will probably come down to the consumers and tax payers, as usual. Don’t get me wrong, Exelon is a very good company. They care much about the safety of these plants and the public. Because of government requirements, lack of government subsidies to the nuclear industry, high taxes, high insurance cost and high everything else, the nuclear industry has just about died. Just my opinion.

June 26, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general