« Environment - US EPA Bad Marks Hit Home | Main | Indiana Decisions - Today's 7th Circuit Rulings »
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Environment/Economic Development - Alternatives to oil or gas-fired power plants
The Chicago Tribune today has this story titled "Nuclear power's future examined: Energy firms study new plants." The lead:
A consortium of energy companies, including Chicago-based Exelon Corp., is laying the groundwork for building the nation's first nuclear power plant since the Three Mile Island accident erased public interest in atomic energy 25 years ago. Company officials noted that there is no commitment to build any plants, estimated to cost billions of dollars. But they said they want to be prepared for what they believe will be the almost inevitable need for new nuclear power to maintain the nation's energy supply. Increasing demand for low-cost electricity and the desire to reduce reliance on imported fuels may improve prospects for new nuclear plants. Those forces already have led to proposals for 105 new coal plants, including 10 in Illinois, as well as wind energy and solar power projects.The NY Times has a similar story: "Hopes of Building Nation's First New Nuclear Plant in Decades," that begins:
In an effort to revive the nuclear reactor construction industry, seven major companies plan to announce on Wednesday that they will apply for a license to build a new commercial power plant. The last time a plant was ordered but not later canceled was 1973. The companies, including the two largest nuclear plant owners in the United States and two reactor manufacturers, have not specified what they would build or where. In fact, they have not made a committment to build at all. But they have agreed to spend tens of millions of dollars to get permission to build, and they anticipate tens of millions from the federal government, which requested such proposals in November. The money would go to finish design work useful for a new generation of reactors and to develop a firm estimate of what such plants would cost.Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal (paid subscription rquired) has a very interesting front-page story, the gist of which is that coal is making an unexpected comeback. The headline: "After Long Taking Its Lumps, Coal Is Suddenly Hot Again: Utilities Shun Natural Gas As They Plan New Plants; Pollution Remains an Issue."
Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 1, 2004 10:14 AM
Posted to Environmental Issues | Indiana economic development