Energy Bill Boosts Nuke Plant Construction

A House-Senate conference committee is negotiating a U.S. energy bill that includes several proposals to boost nuclear power plant construction.

The proposals call for taxpayers to share the cost of licensing the first generation of new plants, offer loan guarantees and set caps on industry liability in case of an accident, the Washington Post reported Sunday.

In addition, the White House wants to protect investors against regulatory delays by defraying the cost of some delays. Some proposals would give the nuclear industry protection against fluctuations in the price of electricity.

Nuclear power advocates say nuclear power would cut the country’s dependence on foreign oil, may seem more attractive as oil prices increase and cut the production of greenhouse gases that can cause global warming.

Nuclear power opponents say putting the burden of nuclear power liability and licensing on the taxpayer as well as the heightened security concerns make it uneconomical.

In addition, the risk for long-term high-level nuclear waste storage and the lack of a permanent disposal site, make nuclear power as unattractive as global warming, according to Anna Aurilio, U.S. Public Interest Research Group.