Nuclear CEO Asks Senate to Put Nukes in Renewable Standards

A very interesting tidbit in the WSJ's Environmental Capital blog today:

John Rowe, CEO nuclear power plant operator Exelon, suggested in a hearing in the U.S. Senate that nuclear be included in renewable portfolio standards.

That's one way to hit the 20 percent by 2020 mark in the typical RPS standard. Nuclear already accounts for 9 percent of the total energy consumed in America, including petroleum, and 20.6 of the electricity generated. That 20.6 percent, by the way, comes from 104 plants. Done.

He also wants $50 billion in loan guarantees.

If anything, the hearings and debates over the energy bill may prod the long awaited showdown on nuclear to occur.

Nuclear proponents and opponents have jousted over several topics in the past few years and several companies have begun to suggest new technologies – such as modular nuclear plants – to reduce some of the planning and financial risks associated with nuclear. Unfortunately, it will also be a debate where the known unknows far outweigh the facts.

A nuclear plant hasn't been built in the U.S. in years and since then the safety, proliferation and expense issues have become more complex. And the solar and wind companies have this going for them: They will be able to put massive amounts of capacity continue to put capacity in the ground before the first permits to build a new nuclear plant are even granted.