The U.S. Nuclear Power Industry: Past, Present, and Possible Futures
2002
Jurewitz, John L.
Although the United States generates only about 20% of its total electricity from nuclear power, it has almost twice as much nuclear generation capacity as any other country. This article presents an historical overview of the U.S. nuclear power industry and the policies that have shaped it. The U.S. nuclear industry is currently at a crossroads. The total number of nuclear powerplants has been virtually constant for over a decade. Over the coming years, it seems likely that the owners of most existing plants will succeed in securing extensions of their operating licenses. The critical question is whether new nuclear capacity will be built. Although it seems likely that some utility will attempt to build a new nuclear plant within the next decade, any such attempt will encounter a degree of public opposition based on environmental and security concerns. The ultimate outcome of this social confrontation is difficult to forecast.
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