The Shaw debacle was caused by nuclear regulation. The paperwork requirements are so onerous that very few vendors are willing to spemd the money and time to get an N-stamp.
The result is no serious competition among vendors and the N-stamp holders can both charge far more than the market and produce lousy product. See
The plants that were built in the 1960's for less than $2000/kW overnight before the current regualtory apparat developed operated for 50 years or more while harming zero members of the public from radiation. Nuclear plants can and should be regulated in the same manner we regulate other highly beneficial and potentially hazardous activities. The result would be 24/7, near zero pollution, very low CO2 3 cents/kWh electricity.
You could build nuclear for...half the price we currently build it. It would be fairly easy. Honestly, nuclear simply isn't that complicated to build.
You should look into the Linear no threshold model of radiation - that is also the driver of a great deal of extra cost. We know, for a fact, the model is wrong. By that I mean every possible experiment proves it is wrong. And activists won't let them change the model.
You live in Denver, and you are therefore at altitude, meaning you get more radiation exposure than most people. Also, lots of granitic rock, with uranium in it. Yet your overall health and more importantly your cancer rates are BELOW the national average. Linear no threshold modeling says that is impossible. There are countless other examples that show the same thing. Doesn't matter - linear no threshold is how we determine whether a reactor is "safe". It's utter rubbish.
The Shaw debacle was caused by nuclear regulation. The paperwork requirements are so onerous that very few vendors are willing to spemd the money and time to get an N-stamp.
The result is no serious competition among vendors and the N-stamp holders can both charge far more than the market and produce lousy product. See
https://jackdevanney.substack.com/p/the-n-stamp
The plants that were built in the 1960's for less than $2000/kW overnight before the current regualtory apparat developed operated for 50 years or more while harming zero members of the public from radiation. Nuclear plants can and should be regulated in the same manner we regulate other highly beneficial and potentially hazardous activities. The result would be 24/7, near zero pollution, very low CO2 3 cents/kWh electricity.
NRC regulations and paperwork are more than burdensome, they have economically strangled the industry. They need a new doctrine.
You could build nuclear for...half the price we currently build it. It would be fairly easy. Honestly, nuclear simply isn't that complicated to build.
You should look into the Linear no threshold model of radiation - that is also the driver of a great deal of extra cost. We know, for a fact, the model is wrong. By that I mean every possible experiment proves it is wrong. And activists won't let them change the model.
You live in Denver, and you are therefore at altitude, meaning you get more radiation exposure than most people. Also, lots of granitic rock, with uranium in it. Yet your overall health and more importantly your cancer rates are BELOW the national average. Linear no threshold modeling says that is impossible. There are countless other examples that show the same thing. Doesn't matter - linear no threshold is how we determine whether a reactor is "safe". It's utter rubbish.
You should re-title your article 'Why Nuclear Is So Expensive In The 2020s.' It was never overly expensive on a levelized basis (and super high CF).