A Tradition Like No Other? NRC Approves Nuclear Reactors
For the first time since 1978, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the construction of two new nuclear reactors in the United States. The reactors are being built at the Vogtle nuclear power plant complex near Augusta, Georgia by a group of utilities headed by the Southern Company. The reactors are expected to cost $14 billion and will be backed by an $8.3 billion loan guarantee from the Department of Energy.
Although new reactors have become operational during the last three decades, all had received their initial licenses prior to 1978. Safety concerns following the Three Mile Island accident, recently underscored by the Fukushima disaster in Japan, have been a major factor in the lack of approvals. However, the new reactors, which are being built by Westinghouse, are designed to avoid the problems that affected reactors in the past. For instance, the new reactors can withstand a complete blackout and include a safety feature that shuts down the reactor using passive (rather than electrical) cooling systems.
Despite the benefits of nuclear power – reliability and negligible green house gas emissions – it is unclear whether the approvals will signal a rebirth for the nuclear power industry. There are still environmental concerns over the disposal of nuclear waste, as well as concerns about the huge costs associated with bringing a reactor online. However, with an additional 20 applications pending before the NRC, nuclear power has not completely melted down quite yet.
