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Environment & Energy
In reply to the discussion: Nuclear Power Remains Key To America's Energy Future [View all]kristopher
(29,798 posts)70. The data goes to completion of plants started through 1977.
Here is another source discussing the same table as published by CBO
"Nuclear Power Plant Construction Costs"
Thus, the average cost overrun for these 75 nuclear units was 207 percent. In other words, the actual average cost of the plants was about triple their estimated costs.
In fact, the data in the previous table understates the cost overruns experienced by the U.S. nuclear industry because (1) the cost figures do not reflect escalation and financing costs and (2) the database does not include some of the most expensive nuclear power plants built in the U.S. e.g., Comanche Peak, South Texas, Seabrook, and Vogtle. For example, the cost of the two unit Vogtle plant in Georgia increased from $660 million to $8.7 billion in nominal dollars a 1,200 percent overrun.
There were a number of significant consequences as a result of these cost overruns. First, only one-half of the nuclear power plants that were proposed were actually built and ratepayers frequently had to bear many millions of dollars of sunk costs for abandoned projects. Second, the cost of power from completed nuclear power plants became much more expensive for ratepayers than the proponents had claimed. In some instances this led to rate increases so large that they spawned the term rate shock..
Thus, the average cost overrun for these 75 nuclear units was 207 percent. In other words, the actual average cost of the plants was about triple their estimated costs.
In fact, the data in the previous table understates the cost overruns experienced by the U.S. nuclear industry because (1) the cost figures do not reflect escalation and financing costs and (2) the database does not include some of the most expensive nuclear power plants built in the U.S. e.g., Comanche Peak, South Texas, Seabrook, and Vogtle. For example, the cost of the two unit Vogtle plant in Georgia increased from $660 million to $8.7 billion in nominal dollars a 1,200 percent overrun.
There were a number of significant consequences as a result of these cost overruns. First, only one-half of the nuclear power plants that were proposed were actually built and ratepayers frequently had to bear many millions of dollars of sunk costs for abandoned projects. Second, the cost of power from completed nuclear power plants became much more expensive for ratepayers than the proponents had claimed. In some instances this led to rate increases so large that they spawned the term rate shock..
http://www.synapse-energy.com/Downloads/SynapsePaper.2008-07.0.Nuclear-Plant-Construction-Costs.A0022.pdf
You can't get the guarantees and the contracts they got by telling the truth about economics like this.
The dishonesty of the arguments you are making is becoming more pronounced the longer this goes on. Since I find that repellent, we are done.
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Americans oppose building more nuclear power plants in the United States, by a margin of 2-1
kristopher
Dec 2011
#1
I notice that poll you cite was taken clear back in April, back when Fukashima was fresh...
LAGC
Dec 2011
#2
Your OP is using polling commissioned by the nuclear industry lobbying group NEI, isn't it?
kristopher
Dec 2011
#3
You've only listed the reasons why we need to build NEW nuclear power plants to REPLACE old.
txlibdem
Dec 2011
#22
Interesting to note that Iran is missing. Probably not easy to poll there.
Starboard Tack
Dec 2011
#9
1) Most don't want more nukes; 2) We spend more on national defense than everyone else combined.
kristopher
Dec 2011
#12
???!!! "Fukishima isn't a serious threat anymore" what planet do you live on?
diane in sf
Dec 2011
#72
yup - ratepayers in FL are paying ~$10 a month per household and there's $50 billion in gov't loan
jpak
Dec 2011
#19
You're on the periphery of the truth. Too bad close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
txlibdem
Dec 2011
#28
No, do you agree with Cohen that Cohen doesn't know jack shit about risk analysis?
Kolesar
Dec 2011
#53