Ever wonder how the Nuclear Industry got off the ground. Beside the serious PR push from Eisenhower to promote the "Friendly Atom" that would "Save the Day" ...
1950’s Nuclear Energy & Atomic Power Plants Pros
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In large part the Price-Anderson Act of 1957 made that Quest for a cheap abundant Atomic Energy carefree Age -- a very "doable" National Goal.
You see, this obscure law was the Nuclear Industry 'Get out of Jail Debt -- FREE!' Card
Price-Anderson enable them to Quit Planning -- and Start Building! ... Damn those pesky Torpedoes ...
Price-Anderson Act of 1957, United States
Lead Authors: World Nuclear Association, Ian Hore-Lacy
Contributing Author: Ida Kubiszewski
Encyclopedia of Earth -- December 7, 2009
Introduction
The Price-Anderson Act, originally enacted by Congress in 1957, limits the liability of the nuclear industry in the event of a nuclear accident in the United States. At the dawn of the nuclear industry in the USA, no private insurance company willingly underwrote a nuclear power plant fully. The lack of financial security would have hindered the development of the nuclear industry. The federal government intervened with this amendment to the 1946 Atomic Energy Act (AEA).
[...]
Extensions to the original Act
The Price-Anderson Act originally limited liability for any single nuclear accident to $500 million in government funds, plus the maximum liability insurance available in the private market—at that time, $60 million—for $560 million total. Congress has extended the act several times, making significant alterations.
[...]
Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 reinstated and extended the Price-Anderson Act for another 20 years—the longest extension Congress has ever granted—with strong bipartisan support. The Act requires individual operators to be responsible for two layers of insurance cover. The first layer requires each nuclear site to purchase US$ 300 million cover from private insurers. The second layer is jointly provided by all US reactor operators. It is funded through retrospective payments, if required, of up to $96 million per reactor collected in annual installments of $15 million (and adjusted for inflation). Combined, the total provision comes to over $10 billion paid by the utilities. The DOE also provides $10 billion for its nuclear activities. Beyond this cover and irrespective of fault, Congress, as insurer of last resort, must decide how compensation is provided in the event of a major accident.
OK in 2005, the Nuclear Industry 'Insurance Cap' has risen from 560 Million to 10 to 20 Billion in this new Public-Private Risk Partnership.
How nice. I wonder if we could ever build a High-Capacity Electric Grid fed by Solar Energy Plants, with that kind of money "backing" for a 21st Century Apollo endeavor?
I suspect we will never find out.
The recent events in Japan should make us pause and reassess. Regroup. Re-prioritize our national Energy Goals. You'd think. Especially in regards to our "faith" in Nuclear Power.
But certainly US Nuclear Engineers were smart enough to avoid the "mistakes" made by the Japanese Nuclear Engineers -- I mean WHO would choose to build a Nuclear Plant in an active Seismic Zone, right next to the Ocean?
You might be surprised, what the "Limited Liability" mindset will end up -- building leaving for prosperity ...
At California Nuclear Plant, Earthquake Response Plan Not Required
Chris Kirkham HuffPost Reporting -- 2011/03/16
[...]
But the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, which sits less than a mile from an offshore fault line, was not required to include earthquakes in its emergency response plan as a condition of being granted its license more than a quarter of a century ago. Though experts warned from the beginning that the plant would be vulnerable to an earthquake, asserting 25 years ago that it required an emergency plan as a condition of its license, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission fought against making such a provision mandatory as it allowed the facility to be built.
Officials at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the utility that operates Diablo Canyon, did not respond to calls seeking comment before the story was published. After publication, a spokesman for the company said the plant does have an earthquake procedure that had been implemented during a 2003 earthquake near the facility, and that staff are trained to respond. The company did not provide further details upon request.
No serius Emergency Response Plan at California's Diablo Nuke plant? Let the Future generations worry about that -- it'll be their problem, won't it.
(Psst! that would be us)
Besides, what are the Odds -- of both Earthquakes and Tsunami striking -- that's like Lightning having a direct hit, isn't it. Someone ask a Scientist, please.
Where is are all the Science Experts when we need them?
How bad would a U.S. Nuclear Disaster be, anyways?
WHAT did they NEED that Price-Anderson Act of 1957 for -- in the first place?
FEMA -- Nuclear Power Plant Emergency
[...]
Although the construction and operation of these facilities are closely monitored and regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), accidents are possible. An accident could result in dangerous levels of radiation that could affect the health and safety of the public living near the nuclear power plant.
Local and state governments, federal agencies, and the electric utilities have emergency response plans in the event of a nuclear power plant incident. The plans define two “emergency planning zones.” One zone covers an area within a 10-mile radius of the plant, where it is possible that people could be harmed by direct radiation exposure. The second zone covers a broader area, usually up to a 50-mile radius from the plant, where radioactive materials could contaminate water supplies, food crops, and livestock.
I wonder why they never talk about the Costs of Radiation-poisoning, and all the Lingering Cancer illnesses and deaths, that Radiation-poisoning and its eventual consumption have been strongly linked with. I guess we don't like to think about that. That's what Price-Anderson is suppose to deal with.
Well, just because we can't "see the Radiation" -- doesn't mean it's without Impact.
How a Nuclear Power Plant Works
http://www.aolnews.com/...
Certainly we in the 21st Century, can think of less Impactful ways, of Boiling Water?
Perhaps some less expensive and less dangerous ways too?
This former Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner has a ballpark estimate on what serious nuclear accident would cost, here in the U.S. (Seems like the 2005 Price-Anderson Act Extension falls a bit short with its $20 Billion Liability cap -- at least 80 Billion short! Excellent planning Congress dudes -- not. )
Would Fund Protect US Taxpayers From Nuke Disaster Here?
Andrew Schneider Senior Public Health Correspondent, AOL News -- Mar 18, 2011
[...]
But former NRC Commissioner Victor Gilinsky told AOL News late Thursday that a serious nuclear accident could cost $100 billion or more.
"There is no way that the industry fund will come close to closing that, and they know it," the nuclear physicist said. "They say that taxpayers would be [spared] the cost, because they maintain it will never happen."
Well there's one excellent plan -- Denial!
Works everytime -- until it Doesn't ... work anymore. That is.
But by then it'll be "some Future Generation's Problem." (that's still us.)
Here's something else that seems to stuck -- in permanent Denial Mode
-- The U.S. National Energy Policy ... or lack thereof.
(Where are those Cheney-Closed-Door Meetings when we need them?)
Crises in Japan, Gulf thwart US energy accord
Associated Press -- Mar 18, 2011
WASHINGTON (AP) — On the road to a national energy policy, President Barack Obama is hitting pothole after pothole.
[...]
Obama defended his energy policies at a news conference last week that was dominated by Libya and Japan.
"As long as our economy depends on foreign oil," Obama said, "we'll always be subject to price spikes." He called for "a comprehensive energy strategy that pursues both more energy production and more energy conservation."
"We're working to diversify our entire portfolio with historic investments in clean energy," he said.
With Japan's nuclear crisis still unfolding, Libya in civil war, and Americans stewing over gasoline prices, U.S. energy policy is bound to be unstable for a while.
When it comes to energy, "the political body tends to careen from stupor to high agitation, based principally on the price of gasoline," said Jason Grumet, president of the Bipartisan Policy Center and a former top Democratic energy adviser. "It is unfortunate that people are trying to score political points, which overstate the role that domestic actions play" in the global energy market, he said.
Aside from the human tragedies in Japan and the Gulf oil spill, Grumet said, those events also damaged hopes for a bipartisan U.S. energy policy that might have combined increased production of oil and gas with aggressive efforts to promote efficiency and renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar energy.
"That broadly framed deal," even if it was in early and uncertain stages, "now is not on the table," Grumet said.
As for longer-range efforts, he said, "there was a growing or broadening consensus for nuclear power, driven largely by concern over climate change." Japan's earthquake-triggered catastrophe, Grumet said, "certainly has put a great strain on what had been an important coalition."
Afterall it's not like we DON'T already have a De-facto National Energy Policy in terms of Big Energy Subsidies, Loan Guarantees, Insurance Caps, and Geo-political Wars for resources ... Sometimes you just get stuck in a rut. Sometimes in those pesky local-constituency ruts too -- like in the Corn Belt.
[ Environmental Law Institute ] Larger Image
Given the pressures of Population growth, and Peak Oil, and scientifically-proven effects of Climate Change, it should be obvious to most educated, thinking persons, that Clean Energy R&D is the key to the Future. The World is moving from the Information Age in to the Clean Energy Age -- whether we join the movement or not.
So WHY is the GOP-lead Congress insisting on Cutting Funding to anything related to R&D ?
Apparently they like being stuck in Cheney's Big Oil Energy rut. It was good enough then. What could go wrong if we keep pursuing the "same old thing"?
Besides $5 gas, and underwriting our enemies, and the eventual erosion of the Planet's crop-friendly environment ... besides that -- not much ... except unending wars, etc.
The People need Green Energy Visionaries, willing to jump-stump start our Manufacturing Economy with the Green Tech of the Future ...
Instead we get weak-willed politicians -- bought and paid for by their "Old Tech" benefactors ... like the Oil-Refining Billionaire Koch Brothers.
Like the the American Petroleum Institute (API) -- who in 2009 spent a mere $7 Million Lobbying to keep "their way of life" soundly in that GOP Anti-Science Camp.
Considering their Billions of Dollars in Subsidies that in Big Oil rakes in year after year, that "Lobbying fee" is small price to pay to preserve THEIR way of Life Profits. ... Damn those pesky Torpedoes ...
In 1946 Congress passed the "Atomic Energy Act" -- and that's turned out well, hasn't it?
It will probably be 2046, before the "People's" Congress discovers their nerve to actually pass a forward looking "Solar Energy Act" -- or its equivalent. Although "the Moment" of Opportunity, will have long since passed us by then; Indeed the Clean Green Opportunities of the Future are passing us by right now.
Maybe by 2046 we'll get with the program -- the only sane choice available for a substantial world in the long run. If were lucky that is. Assuming that Science is still allowed by that future generations of "leaders" ... in that Brave, New Corpo-Market, World.
I hope we can afford the $20 a gallon gasoline, by then. How about you? Won't be traveling much in my golden years, it seems. Won't be able to afford it.
Ever wonder what a Lack of National Energy Policy will get you?
Just look around, just keep coughing, just keep indoors on "fallout days", and most of all just keep "paying the piper" at the pump. Keep paying their Billion Dollar Subsidies too -- they need those incentives to keep raising the price.
Or maybe they don't. Seems they could keep raising the price, all on their lonesome ... sort of like clockwork.