A state-based study group in Virginia, the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, says that nuclear power is clean and safe and could help turn the state’s energy deficit into an energy surplus.
The state of Virginia will require 4,000 megawatts more in 2021 than it does today and the addition of four new reactors would be able to supply the state with most of that energy, said the think tank in a paper titled, “Virginia Can Lead The Nation’s Nuclear Renaissance.”
“As our society struggles with the issue of Climate Change, we have a sincere disagreement among our citizens on whether Global Warming exists, if it does where does human activity play a role and … where should public policy be focused and what should industry do to help the environment and provide for our economic well-being,” the paper asks.
Among the benefits, “Experts have found that the average nuclear power plant generates $470 million in sales of goods and services annually. One plant provides approximately $40 million in labor income each year and 400 to 700 full time permanent jobs, which pay 36 percent more than other local jobs.”
Virginia’s reactors – North Anna 1 and 2 in Louisa County and Surry 1 and 2 in Surry County – provide 3500 megawatts of power …. Nearly 36 percent of Virginia’s electricity,” the paper says.
Across the country, the paper asserts, coal provides for 39.1 percent of the electricity generation, natural gas 27.4 percent, nuclear 19.4 percent and renewable 12.9 percent, making nuclear power the largest non-polluting source of electricity in the country.
Meanwhile, Virginia is ranked second in the nation as a power importer, ranked only behind California. In addition, electricity from coal and natural gas is more expensive than nuclear power, at 3.5 cents and 4.5 cents per kilowatt hour, respectively, compared to nuclear power at only 0.6 cents per kilowatt hour, using figures based in Virginia, the paper said.
The paper, co-authored by Robert Hartwell and Donald Hoffman, also extols the benefits of Small Modular Reactors. “Underground SMRs placed in key locations at key government facilities, underground and immune from electromagnetic pulse attacks or power grid sabotage make total sense,” the paper said.
Donald Hoffman is Chairman of the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority and the immediate past president of the American Nuclear Society. He is also president and chief executive officer of Excel Services Corporation, an international consulting firm to the nuclear power industry.
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