Industrial Hotspots: U.S. Nuclear Power Industry Evaluates 59% Capacity Expansion
Industrial Info Resources (www.industrialinfo.com) said
there are 48 nuclear power plants being evaluated for development by both
utilities and private investment groups. If all were to come on line - a
dubious likelihood - it would result in a 59% increase in nuclear generating
capacity from 102,400 megawatts to 163,500 MW. Currently there are 104 units
operating in the U.S., according to industrialinfo.com, but no new ones since 1996.
Nuclear power plants currently provide about 20% of this country’s electricity.
DOE projects a 45% growth in electricity demand by 2030, and 35 to 50 new
nuclear plants would need to be activated by then in order to maintain
nuclear’s share of the energy market. Efforts are underway between the U.S.
government and the nuclear industry to reduce licensing time to about five
years compared to the 10-20 years previously experienced.