nuclear-news

USA nuclear industry just not financially viable, despite government promotion

”…… the economics are not in place. ”Right now, it’s stuck,” John Reed, an investment banker who specialises in nuclear projects, said. of the planned nuclear revival.

Cheap gas gets in the way of new reactors The US federal and state governments want power plants but very little construction is under way, Sydney Morning Herald,  Matthew Wald. 3 Feb 2011, In his State of the Union address, the US President, Barack Obama, proposed giving the nuclear construction business a type of help it has never had, a role in a quota for clean energy. But recent setbacks in a hoped-for ”nuclear renaissance” raise questions about how much of a role nuclear power can play. Continue reading →

February 3, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

Nuclear power merger between Duke and Progress still financially risky

The key questions are, who would pay for those multi-billion dollar projects…?…..New nuclear projects are being abandoned in several states and foreign countries – after millions were invested – due to technical complexities and soaring cost estimates….Even Progress CEO Bill Johnson admitted last month that a merger with Duke would still leave nuclear construction “a risky proposition.”…..

Beware the bill for nuclear plants – Other Views NewsObserver.com, BY LYNICE WILLIAMS AND JIM WARREN, 2 Feb 2011, Recent news of a merger between Duke Energy and Progress Energy sets the stage for North Carolina to become home to the nation’s largest electric utility. Continue reading →

February 2, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

The waste and water costs of coal and nuclear

200B Gallons of Water Drawn Each Day for U.S. Coal, Nuclear Power, SustainableBusiness.com 31/1 2011, An astounding 200 billion gallons of water withdrawn from America’s water supply each day… and four metric tons of high-level radioactive wastes for every terawatt of electricity produced by nuclear reactors, even though there is no long-term storage solution in place Continue reading →

February 2, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

Nuclear company Exelon’s low stock price making things difficult

Exelon’s low stock price stymied potential bid for N.C. utility, Crain’s Chicago Business By: Steve Daniels January 26, 2011 — Exelon Corp.’s low stock price is making it harder for CEO John Rowe to pull off the big acquisition he’s looking for. Continue reading →

January 28, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

Drop in income for nuclear company Exelon

Exelon 4Q net income falls on charges, Bloomberg,  Jan 27, 2011   By The Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Nuclear power plant operator Exelon Corp. reported lower fourth-quarter earnings Wednesday on losses due to hedging transactions and costs of planning to retire some plants.The company said net income fell to $524 million, or 79 cents per share, from $581 million, or 88 cents per share, a year earlier…

January 27, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

Unpopular in South Carolina: fee increases for regulating “low level” radioactive waste

SC legislators balk at low-level nuclear material fee increase tied to tougher fed security,  latimes.com,  JIM DAVENPORT Associated Press January 25, 2011, COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Some South Carolina lawmakers don’t like proposed fee increases for regulating low-level nuclear material tied to tougher federal security requirements. Continue reading →

January 26, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment