Cooperative Planning: Building a Sustainable Nuclear Industry Megan Sharrow University of Wisconsin – Madison WISE 2006

An Overview  Why is nuclear power important?  Identifying the steps to sustainability.  How to turn barriers to building blocks.  Summary of recommendations  Q&A

Why is nuclear power important? It’s 20%. From: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-906, “Power Plant Report.” Electric power generation by source during 2004

Clean 1  700 million tons of carbon dioxide  1.1 million tons of nitrogen oxide  3.3 million tons of sulfur dioxide Safe 2  0 deaths due to commercial reactor accidents in the U.S.  50 total deaths due to international and defense reactor accidents  500+deaths in coals mines for 2005 alone  500+deaths in single oil accident in Nigeria, 1998  3,500 deaths from 2 dam failures in India, Why is nuclear power important? It’s clean & safe

Why is nuclear power important? It’s reliable. SourceCapacity Factor Nuclear89.6 Coal72.6 Hydro29.3 Wind26.8 Solar18.8 Average Capacity Factors by Source for 2005 Source:

 New plants  Maintain 20%, possibly more  Interim waste storage  Consolidation and Preparation (CAP) Facilities  Research and development  Global Nuclear Energy Partnership  Permanent disposal  Yucca Mountain Steps to Sustainability

 New plants: Nuclear Power 2010 and 2005 Energy Policy Act Barriers to Building Blocks Loan guarantees Tax credits Extended risk insurance  Create domestic jobs 1  Construction: 1, per plant  Operation: per plant Indefinite process  Licensing No domestic International slow High capital cost  Infrastructure  Financing Combined steps Moderated stalling

2. Interim storage: On-site to off-site Barriers to Building Blocks Legitimate concern or unfounded fear?  Transportation  CO$T: Tax payer vs. Rate payer

MythBusters! Photos from: Superficial damage 120-ton locomotive traveling at 80 miles an hour vs. Transport container on a flatbed trailer

3. Research and development: Collaboration and exploration Barriers to Building Blocks Collaboration Leadership = Time Money Effort + Secure energy Global energy Reduce waste

4. Permanent disposal: The Nuclear Waste Management and Disposal Act Barriers to Building Blocks Indefinite Insufficient Non-existent Licensing Financing Infrastructure 2 years + 6 months Nuclear Waste Fund Railroads and offices

 Permanent disposal  Yucca Mountain should be expedited through modifying the existing legislation.  New plants  Nuclear Power 2010 and 2005 Energy Policy Act should continue as scheduled.  Off-site interim storage  CAP facilities should be placed near research sites and Yucca.  Research and development  GNEP should be coordinated amongst domestic and international communities. Summary of Recommendations

Questions?

 New Plants Obstacles to Achievement  Untested licensing process  Updated in 1992  Significant financial risk  Highest capital cost  Lack of infrastructure  No domestic plants constructed for 20 years  International waiting list

2. Off-Site Interim Storage Obstacles to Achievement  Unfounded transportation concerns 1. EPRI Technical Report, “Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation,”  8 accidents involving casks in U.S. 1  4 of these involved casks carrying waste  Worst accident: truck rollover in 1971  Results: no releases of radiation

3.Research and Development Obstacles to Achievement  Partnerships  To share costs  Aid in deployment  Undeveloped mission plan for Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) Wants: Needs:  Secure, global energy production  Limit spread of advanced technologies  Small-scale reactors to small nations  Reprocessing, enriching in weapon-states

4.Permanent Disposal Obstacles to Achievement  Unrealistic standards  1,000,000 year design analysis  Insufficient incentives for completion  Financing and managing  Alternatives temporarily postponed 1  Public opposition  Massive transportation of waste  Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY)  Anti-nuclear desire to stop industry 1. Department of Energy Report, “Alternative Means of Financing and Managing the Civilian radioactive Waste Management Program,” August 2001.

 Building New Infrastructure Barriers to Building Blocks  Licensing process already begun  Fewer opportunities for stalling  Significant financial securities  Loan guarantees, tax credits  Extended risk insurance  Domestic infrastructure  Create jobs 1  Construction: 1, per plant  Operation: per plant  Re-establish manufacturing  BXW Technologies Inc. 2  2. Nucleonics, May

2. Transporting Waste Barriers to Building Blocks  Opportunity to dispel transportation concerns  Build public faith for transport to Yucca Mountain  Strategic location of CAP facilities  Deliver candidate fuel to research facilities  Expedite eventual disposal

3.Developing a Mission Plan for GNEP Barriers to Building Blocks  Encourage international collaboration  Establish partnerships  Fortify sense of global investment  Support innovation at national labs and universities  Enable scientific pursuits a la Space Race  Ensure U.S. remains among global leaders of nuclear industry

4. Expediting Yucca Mountain Barriers to Building Blocks  Nuclear Fuel Management and Disposal Act  Numerous provisions  Sets limit on review of “receive and possess” license  Repeals statutory limit on repository  Allows commencement of infrastructure construction  Suggests alternative means of financing  Steps in right direction  Needs closer inspection 1. Department of Energy Report, “Alternative Means of Financing and Managing the Civilian radioactive Waste Management Program,” August 2001.