An Incredible Performance in the Past Decade

Mr. Michael Sellman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Management Company, was interviewed regarding his views on a series of questions related to the future of the nuclear industry in the United States. He stated that nuclear power has tremendous potential to provide emission-free energy, stabilize energy prices, enhance national security, and bolster the nation's balance of trade. But, there is a need to optimize the design and efficiencies of the next generation of plants to fully tap this potential. Needed are passively safe, multipurpose reactors, with reasonable staffing levels, and lower constructions costs. Tax credits or other financial incentives may be necessary in addition to some governmental protection against litigation. A strong national energy policy that supports clean-air sources of generation, a permanent repository for high-level waste, and investments in research for new technologies such as transmutation are all also essential. There is a strong need, too, to reinvigorate collegiate nuclear programs so that there are trained professionals to operate the next generation of nuclear plants, educate stakeholders, and embrace environmental groups. Information and communication technology will play a role, as will standardized training and the use of retired professionals part time. The nuclear industry has alreadymore » made tremendous strides in making plants attractive to investors with its excellent safety and dramatic production increases that are the equivalent of building 19 new 1,000-megawatt generating plants. But government support to mitigate the time and dollar risk of new plant construction caused by legal or regulatory issues would also be beneficial. Near term construction would likely draw upon advanced reactor designs developed for both pressurized water and boiling water reactor technologies while in the longer term, breakthrough technology in modular gas-cooled designs or advances in pressurized reactor technology would likely lead the way. As far as diversity of fuel types go, the U.S. does need contributions from several energy sources: renewable, nuclear power, clean coal and natural gas. In addition, a hydrogen-nuclear marriage has tremendous potential for the nuclear industry.« less