Resources & Stats
August/September 2007
Nuclear Energy Revival Enters New-Plant Licensing Phase
Revitalized interest in building new nuclear power plants in the United States has reached a new phase: the submission of license applications to federal authorities.In July, UniStar Nuclear became the first company to submit a portion of its combined construction and operating license (COL) application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. UniStar submitted the environmental section of its application.
Although the joint Constellation Energy-AREVA consortium is the first to submit a partial license application, companies could send COL applications for as many as four new reactors by year’s end. Altogether, 17 companies and consortia have announced plans to submit license applications for up to 31 reactors in the next few years.
The licensing phase is one of the first steps in nuclear plant construction. Interest in building new reactors has found support among policymakers at the local, state and national levels.
Also In This Issue:
Nuclear Plant Neighbors Roll Out Welcome Mat for New Reactors
Eighty-two percent of Americans living in close proximity to nuclear power plants favor nuclear energy, and 71 percent are willing to see a new reactor built near them, according to a new public opinion survey of more than 1,100 adults nationwide.
Safe Design Helps Nuclear Power Withstand Earthquakes
When a major earthquake struck the northern coast of Japan in July, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant responded as designed, shutting down its operating reactors safely.
Belarusian Children Learn ABCs of Nuclear Energy
Warmth from the summer sun, the smell of hotdogs on the grill and faint cheers from a fishing boat created the perfect backdrop for an American barbeque. But this time, the picnickers, who enjoyed such a setting at a U.S. nuclear power plant, live thousands of miles away.