Nuclear Not the Answer, Says MIT Study

While nuclear energy is being touted as a possible savior for global warming, an updated MIT study says the technology hasn't progressed and is still too expensive.

1 minute read

May 24, 2009, 5:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

"In 2003, MIT argued that nuclear power could play an important role in U.S. electricity generation, and that government help was needed to jumpstart a U.S. revival. That has yet to happen yet, the revised study notes.

Many of the challenges facing nuclear power are the same. Take economics. Building nuclear plants is still a lot more expensive than building coal- or gas-fired plants, and nuclear-generated electricity is still more expensive than either fossil-fuel option: 8.8 cents a kilowatt for nuclear versus 6.2 cents for coal and 6.5 cents for gas, MIT figures."

"An even bigger economic hurdle: lenders typically charge more to finance a nuclear plant than, say, a combined-cycle gas-fired power plant. That's because nuclear plants have a history of running behind schedule and facing cost overruns."

FULL STORY: Nuclear Revival: Still On Hold, MIT Study Says

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 in The Wall St. Journal

Energy Environment United States Energy Policy Nuclear power

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.