The Nuclear Dilemma
Episode
8
Published:
Updated:
October 1, 2021
Nuclear power produces carbon free electricity, but it also comes with baggage. We set out to answer what role it should play in our path to net zero.
Nuclear power produces carbon free electricity, but it also comes with baggage. We set out to answer what role it should play in our path to net zero.
This will likely be our last best option to put us on the right path with climate change.
Take the five minutes to submit a comment or send a Facebook message. For extra points, send a message to both Biden and your Senators.
Potential Talking Points
Submit comments here
Or post a Facebook message on Whitehouse FB page
We drew our conclusions about nuclear based on a lot of reading, but don't take our word for it! Spend some time reviewing the show notes and sources we used to conduct our research.
When you're done, write us and let us know where you landed and why!
New report from EU Central bank underscores costs of climate change inaction
Sources
Economic Impact of Climate Change in Europe Is Scrutinized - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Overview
Primary Pros - reliable carbon-free dispatchable power
Primary Cons - safety risks, waste problem and costs more
19% of U.S. power mix or same as all renewable sources combined
26% of E.U. power mix
In U.S., retirements are outpacing new installations
Union of Concerned Scientists estimates greater than 1/3 of U.S. plants are either
Sources
Electricity in the U.S. - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Nuclear Power in the European Union - World Nuclear Association (world-nuclear.org)
The Nuclear Power Dilemma | Union of Concerned Scientists (ucsusa.org)
Costs
New wind and solar $30 / MWh (low end without storage)
New nuclear $129 / MWh (low end)
Caveat - nuclear is dispatchable power and wind/solar are not
Sources
Lazard’s Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis—Version 13.0
Germany Case Study
Sources
Safety
Chernobyl death toll
Fukushima death toll - one confirmed to date, but more may come with time
U.S. accident in 1961 - three people died
Sources
The true toll of the Chernobyl disaster - BBC Future
Japan confirms first Fukushima worker death from radiation - BBC News
Waste
Initially stored for 5 years on-site in cooling tanks
Permanent storage in dry casks
Total waste volume produced since 1950 in U.S. equal to football field 10 yards deep
Yucca Mountain selected in 1987 as target site for waste
Dept. of Energy was supposed to begin moving waste in 1998
Sources
https://www.nei.org/news/2019/what-happens-nuclear-waste-us
Harry Reid vs Yucca Mountain - Chicago Tribune
Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository - Wikipedia
New Reactor Designs
Light Water Reactors (LWR)
Non-Light-Water-Reactors
Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Analysis
Summary conclusion
Sources
"Advanced" Isn't Always Better | Union of Concerned Scientists (ucsusa.org)
Executive Summary - UCS Analysis
Table comparing technology types - nlwr-compare-lwr.JPG (1120×939) (ucsusa.org)
Summary Recommendations
Recognize value of carbon free power from nuclear
Some states are implementing zero emission credit programs
Tie subsidies to meeting certain provisions
Compliance with safety
Increased security
Shielding rate payers from price hikes
Invest in keys to carbon free power sector
Modernizing the grid
Subsidizing storage technology
Energy efficiency
Sources
The Nuclear Power Dilemma | Union of Concerned Scientists (ucsusa.org)
Why We Still Need America’s Nuclear Power Plants — At Least for Now (edf.org)
