Costly Nuclear Power
Energy We Can’t Afford
Buyer Beware of Nuclear Power Costs
“Electricity too cheap to meter!” That was the original pitch used to sell nuclear power. It proved to be at least illusory, if not fraudulent. In the Pacific Northwest, this sales spiel enabled the construction of the Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPPS), the largest municipal bond default in US history and led to the higher electric rates we continue to pay. Today, nuclear power is one of the most expensive sources of electricity available and there is no indication that future costs will be lower. Nuclear power has always relied on taxpayer dollars. Without public subsidies there would never have been a nuclear power industry. Now, still more is being allocated to bail out the uneconomical operating plants and their corporate owners. Additionally, billions in federal subsidies are being given the corporate giants such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to develop new nuclear plants. The net result: corporations walk away with big profits and consumers are stuck with high electric rates.
The Least Cost Alternative
Unfortunately, some of the region’s local utilities remain stuck in a 1950s mentality. Unable to learn from their past, they are poised to invest in new nuclear plants regardless of the cost to the end user. Fortunately, however, much less costly energy resources abound. Energy efficiency, solar, and wind sources are all less expensive and are not affected by rising fuel prices. In fact, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (Council) in its 2021 Power Plan found that solar, wind, and energy efficiency are the most cost-effective resources for the next five years. Nuclear power did not even make the list. The Council estimated that over the next 5 years the region could save enough electricity just through conservation measures to almost equal the output of two of the new small nuclear reactors now being proposed. Additionally, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that by 2027, the cost of power from rooftop solar installations will be 50 percent less than power from the electric grid.
As the chart below indicates, soon residential solar—even on the cloudier west side of the Cascades—will be viable option.
(Source: freeingenergy.com/g114)
Below in the Resources section you will find papers, articles, videos, etc. documenting nuclear power costs along with solar, wind, and energy efficiency.
How we're fighting back
• Working with other organization in the West to make sure consumers have safe, affordable, and reliable power.
• Reaching out to the Northwest residents make them aware that nuclear energy is not a viable climate action.
• Supporting the deployment of local energy sources that will keep electric rates affordable for all such as energy efficiency and solar.
Utilities in the Pacific Northwest are in the process of planning for reducing their carbon footprint and while some are looking at energy efficiency and conservation along with renewablea, others are unfortunately looking to nuclear power. It's important we encourage those utilities seeking nuclear free options to continue down that path. At the same time, we need to let those utilities planning on nuclear power know they need to follow a nuclear free path and focus on local energy projects. Nuclear power costs will only add significant costs to electric bills in addition to the increased costs for fixing the electric grid for reliability.
Action Needed Now!
Tell Your Electric Utility
Now is not the time to solve one problem with another, one that will increase electric rates and impact future generations with radioactive waste. Let your utility know you want your ratepayer dollars to be used for energy efficiency, community renewables, and rooftop solar. Here are the utilities that we know are considering new nuclear reactors:
Clark Public Utility District - Grant County Public Utility District - Pacific Power
Resources
Note: To expand the table go the bottom of the table and on the righthand corner click on "View larger version." For more help view the Document Library Guide.