U.S. needs 100 new nuclear plants soon, says Alexander
Alexander, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Major Economies Business Forum on Energy Security and Climate Change that China plans to build 132 nuclear reactors in the next 20 years and that some are already under construction.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has 34 proposals pending in a five-year licensing process that, once completed, will likely find approved projects tied up in court. The U.S. now has 104 reactors supplying 19 percent of its electrical energy.
The environmental group Friends of the Earth replied to the speech, saying the nuclear power industry won't build reactors without "taxpayer-backed loan guarantees."
Friends president Erich Pica said Alexander's call for more nuclear plants "is really a call for U.S. taxpayers to foot the bill so some of the world's largest multinational corporations can make huge profits."
In his speech, Alexander noted that one consequence of not having permitted a nuclear power plant in 30 years is that America's steel industry is now incapable of forging the 320-ton parts for reactor cores now being made in Japan, China and Russia.
"So let's take stock," Alexander said. "There are 40 reactors now under construction in 11 countries around the world, none of them in the United States. In fact only two are in Western Europe — one in Finland and the other in France, both built by (French-owned) Areva."
The rest are in Asia.
"Are we going to be able to compete with countries that have cheap, clean, reliable nuclear power while we're stuck with a bunch of windmills and solar farms producing expensive, unreliable energy or, more likely, not enough energy?" he asked.
After the speech, Alexander was asked about disposal of toxic nuclear waste. He said he would endorse a plan to store waste at reactor sites until a "new Manhattan project," which might take up to 20 years, figures out how to recycle it.
Speaking to the international press later, Alexander said everyone in the Obama administration except Energy Secretary Steven Chu seems incapable of considering the nuclear option.
"Nuclear energy in America lacks two words: presidential leadership," he said.
Then he and three staffers hopped in a black Toyota Prius hybrid to return to Capitol Hill.
Related News

BC Hydro to begin reporting COVID-19 updates at Site C
VANCOUVER - BC Hydro says it will begin giving regular updates to the public and the Peace River Regional District about its monitoring of the coronavirus COVID-19 at Site C.
BC Hydro met with the Peace River Regional District Sunday via phone call to discuss the forthcoming measures.
"We did a make a commitment to provide regular updates to Peace River Regional District member communities on an ongoing basis," said spokesman Dave Conway.
"(It's) certainly one of the things that we heard that they want and we heard that strongly and repeatedly."
Conway said updates could be posted as early as Monday on BC…