Russia Unveils Detailed Plans To Build 21 New Nuclear Power Units By 2030

[PamW]

98. Some more interesting facts.

Kelvin states
I have a pronounced distrust of allowing any commercial entity to operate these reactors for profit. As soon as profit is in the equation, there is pressure to cut costs, which means skimping on training, safety and materials. I would trust engineers to design safe reactors, I just have no faith that my local electric company will build/operate it safely, since doing so would cut their profits.

Kelvin,

How do you feel about airlines? Do you think airlines are going to skimp on safety just to make a buck, and put the lives of their customers and employees at risk?

I don't know how this "skimp on safety to make a buck" crap got started; but it's just not true. Airlines realize that skimping on safety is just not worth it. The gains to be had are paltry. If you skimp on safety; and maybe save a few thousand dollars; then the airline loses an airliner costing tens of millions of dollars. In addition, they lose valuable employees, and they lose customers. Who wants to fly on an airline that is "accident prone".

NO - the airlines realize that the ONLY way their industry survives is by upholding the HIGHEST standards of safety. In the last decade, we've seen that really pay off; as we have had years with some of the best / safest airline operations.

The nuclear industry is the same. The CEOs of the nuclear industry know that if they screw up; they lose an investment of BILLIONS of dollars and years of time. It just isn't worth it.

It would be like you not replacing the brake pads on your car. You might save a few bucks; but you could die in a crash if you can't stop. Is it worth it?

The big thing that soured CEOs on building new nuclear power plants was the Shoreham incident. The utility, LILCO, essentially did everything correct, and the NRC was prepared to issue them an operating license. The problem was that then New York Governor Mario Cuomo packed the New York Public Utilities Commission with anti-nukes. They get to decide on the price that LILCO could charge for power. They decided that LILCO could charge NOTHING.

A nuclear power plant has to "earn its keep". It has to earn the money the utility borrowed to build it. Since they couldn't charge for Shoreham's power; LILCO had no way to pay back the loan; and was forced into bankruptcy, and non-existence. It is a repeat of THAT that has nuclear utility CEOs afraid of nuclear power. We, in essence, have to BRIBE them to take on chance on that risk. That's why we have the loan guarantees.

The good thing about science is that it is true, whether or not you believe in it.
--Neil deGrasse Tyson

PamW