Reactor economics: its public role in the energy debate

The annual and well-publicized economic analysis of Charles Komanoff showing the economic advantages of coal-fired power plants relative to nuclear power plants helps to bridge the gap between the public energy debate and the problems of generating electricity for profit. The public debate takes place at a variety of hearing locations and at all points of utility construction, power generation, and rate determination, with Komanoff's estimates providing the anti nuclear forces with specific figures that have more impact than the variables offered by the separate studies of the pro-nuclear forces. Studies by Rossin and others have, on the other hand, shown nuclear plants to be competitive. Methodologies used to determine economic viability are the key to their viladity and need to be scrutinized carefully. (DCK)