Comments on: Nukes in Asia http://www.terrarossa.com/nukes-in-asia/ Where Conservatives Consider a New Energy Future Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:29:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: G. R. L. Cowan, boron combustion fan http://www.terrarossa.com/nukes-in-asia/#comment-7192 G. R. L. Cowan, boron combustion fan Sat, 08 Sep 2007 23:06:19 +0000 http://www.terrarossa.com/?p=216#comment-7192 Loan guarantees aren't exactly subsidies. If the plants end up half-built or mothballed after government guarantees their loans, the government will of course be out that money, but if the plants go ahead and produce, they'll prevent natural gas consumption, and that means the government will still be out money, because natural gas is more than ten times as costly as uranium, and in some markets it is heavily taxed. If the loans are <em>not</em> guaranteed by government, then the developers will have to be looking over their shoulders lest the government, eager for gas revenue, finds some excuse to shut them down. That extra risk translates into a higher cost of money (a higher interest rate). Loan guarantees aren’t exactly subsidies. If the plants end up half-built or mothballed after government guarantees their loans, the government will of course be out that money, but if the plants go ahead and produce, they’ll prevent natural gas consumption, and that means the government will still be out money, because natural gas is more than ten times as costly as uranium, and in some markets it is heavily taxed.

If the loans are not guaranteed by government, then the developers will have to be looking over their shoulders lest the government, eager for gas revenue, finds some excuse to shut them down. That extra risk translates into a higher cost of money (a higher interest rate).

]]> By: Jim Davis http://www.terrarossa.com/nukes-in-asia/#comment-6846 Jim Davis Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:53:17 +0000 http://www.terrarossa.com/?p=216#comment-6846 Why do they need government subsidies? If nuclear cant pay for itself, we should not use it. Otherwise what happens when the subsidies run out? The rate payers end up paying for mothballed plants for plants that are not cost effective. Its also interesting that foreign companies are being hired to build these plants. Why do they need government subsidies? If nuclear cant pay for itself, we should not use it. Otherwise what happens when the subsidies run out? The rate payers end up paying for mothballed plants for plants that are not cost effective. Its also interesting that foreign companies are being hired to build these plants.

]]> By: Alan Drake http://www.terrarossa.com/nukes-in-asia/#comment-6685 Alan Drake Sat, 25 Aug 2007 17:19:04 +0000 http://www.terrarossa.com/?p=216#comment-6685 Actually, after the nuclear building industry committed hari kari, gov't subsidies are drawing out new plans. TVA has announced plans to finish the mothballed & 60% complete Watts Bar 2 (1.2 GW) in five years for an estimated $2.5 billion. This is shortly after they restarted the 1 GW Browns Ferry 1 24 years after a bad fire there shut it down. Texas Utilities has ordered two 1.7 GW nukes from Mitsubishi and Constellation has a deal with the French Areva to build one 1.6 GW nuke at Calvert Cliffs to join the two existing 0.9 GW nukes there. Quite a few more US nukes are "in the hopper", more than there are gov't subsidies for, so it will be interesting to see who gets the Gov't $ by building first and who chickens out and cancels. A multi-billion $ game of musical chairs ! Actually, after the nuclear building industry committed hari kari, gov’t subsidies are drawing out new plans.

TVA has announced plans to finish the mothballed & 60% complete Watts Bar 2 (1.2 GW) in five years for an estimated $2.5 billion. This is shortly after they restarted the 1 GW Browns Ferry 1 24 years after a bad fire there shut it down.

Texas Utilities has ordered two 1.7 GW nukes from Mitsubishi and Constellation has a deal with the French Areva to build one 1.6 GW nuke at Calvert Cliffs to join the two existing 0.9 GW nukes there.

Quite a few more US nukes are “in the hopper”, more than there are gov’t subsidies for, so it will be interesting to see who gets the Gov’t $ by building first and who chickens out and cancels. A multi-billion $ game of musical chairs !

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