3 ms·
I don't think the statement "The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is the reason nuclear power hasn't taken off" is incompatible with the statement "Regulation has
by chc 13y ago
I don't think the statement "The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is the reason nuclear power hasn't taken off" is incompatible with the statement "Regulation has effectively killed the once promising nuclear industry."
- tbrownaw 13y agoRight. But the relevant regulations are because people are scared of the word "nuclear", rather than because electricity is a utility.
- saalweachter 13y agoI would also cite differential regulation. Nuclear is a significantly more regulated industry than coal and natural gas. Consequently, it is cheaper to run coal and natural gas plants, just because there are large external costs associated with natural gas and coal (emissions, environmental damage) which are passed on to the taxpayer instead of the consumer. It is quite possible that if natural gas and coal were forced to pay for their externalities (via regulation) nuclear would be more cost-competitive, and you'd see more advancement of nuclear technology in industry.