Lawmakers weigh cost of nuke plant (IA)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120312/NEWS01/703129943#lawmakers-weigh-cost-of-nuke-plant

Published Monday March 12, 2012

DES MOINES (AP) — Iowa lawmakers could take action this week on a bill allowing MidAmerican Energy to seek permission from regulators to move forward with a nuclear power plant, but some are still questioning whether the measure would hurt customers.

The measure would allow MidAmerican to ask the Iowa Utilities Board for a rate increase from the company's customers to finance the cost of permitting, licensing and building a plant. Costs for such a project have been estimated at $2 billion.

A committee vote on the measure was delayed last week, but Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Matt McCoy said he expects to bring it up this week — if support doesn't weaken under heavy pressure from opponents.

"There's a lot of lobbying and a lot of activity around the bill, and members have the right to look and re-look and re-examine their position," said McCoy, D-Des Moines. "What we've got to do is size it up and make sure everybody is still where they say they are."

FULL story at link.

[madrchsod]

1. that would be a very small plant

the last estimates on a nuclear power plant was around 15 billion. the last one illinois built was completed 1979 at a cost of 4 billion.

[madokie]

2. Just think what you could build for 2 billion

if you were doing solar or wind. We need to put our money and time into developing storage and high voltage DC transmission lines to get the wind from where it blows to where we need the energy harnessed from it. Same with solar.