Categories:
Energy
/
General Market Commentary
Topics:
General Energy
/
General Market Commentary
Going nuclear: Perry poised to lead renewable energy push
Going nuclear: Perry poised to lead renewable energy push
No political leader since the first Energy Secretary James Schlesinger, under then-President Jimmy Carter, has been in a position to reshape America’s energy policy as much as former Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
With Senate confirmation hearings having occurred Thursday, Perry knows that we cannot postpone dealing with the threat to our nation’s energy security any longer.
The Obama administration's policies have favored renewable energy sources and undervalued the importance of fossil fuels, nuclear power, and energy diversity. Instead, we need policies that are good for our economy, address concerns about the environment and provide well-paying jobs for American workers.
Nuclear power accomplishes all three of these objectives. It is clean, reliable and affordable. Notwithstanding opposition from anti-nuclear environmental groups, it is the only source of zero-carbon electricity that is available around the clock.
The U.S. fleet of nearly 100 nuclear plants supplies 19 percent of the nation’s electricity and more than 60 percent of the carbon-free power.
Importantly, the cost of nuclear-generated electricity has been relatively stable, whereas natural gas has a long history of price volatility.
The United States is now a net exporter of natural gas and its price is expected to rise as cargoes of liquefied natural gas are shipped overseas to markets in Asia and Europe.
Given the growing demand for electricity here at home, nuclear power has a critically important role to play in the years ahead.
Additional nuclear plants are needed to provide prudent insurance against possible spikes in electricity prices and shortages that could harm households and businesses, adversely affecting the U.S. economy.
Fortunately, construction is moving forward on four new nuclear plants — two each in Georgia and South Carolina, respectively. These reactors are being equipped with advanced technology that will make them even more efficient than existing power plants.
The cost of similar plants of the same design will almost certainly decline as more plants are built. New techniques in modular construction and the return of many equipment suppliers, following a hiatus in nuclear construction, make that possible.
Still, much more needs to be done at the federal and state levels to foster the growth of nuclear power
To continue reading please click link http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/energy-environment/315331-going-nuclear-perry-poised-to-lead-renewable-energy