Nuclear Power Costs
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Energy We Can’t Afford
Buyer Beware of Nuclear Power Costs
“Electricity too cheap to meter!” That was the original pitch to sell nuclear power and we know how
poorly that turned out. In the Pacific Northwest, this sales spiel resulted in the largest municipal bond default in US history and the higher electric rates we continue to pay. Today, nuclear power is one of the most expensive sources of electricity and there is no indication that future costs will be different. Nuclear power has always relied on taxpayer dollars; now still more is being allocated to bailout the uneconomical operating plants and their corporate owners. Additionally, billions of 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 1950’s mentality. Unable to learn from their past, they seem just fine with new nuclear plants regardless of the costs to the end user. But it doesn’t have to be that way because 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 recently released 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 through conservation measures equal to almost two of the new small nuclear reactors now being proposed. Additionally, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that by 2027, the cost of rooftop solar 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
NWEA is working with other organization in the West to make sure consumers have safe, affordable, and reliable power.
NWEA is reaching out to the Northwest residents make them aware that nuclear energy is not a viable climate action.
NWEA is supporting the deployment of local energy sources that will keep electric rate affordable for all such as energy efficiency and solar.
Utilities in the Northwest are in the process of planning for reducing their carbon footprint and while some are looking at energy efficiency and conservation along with renewable, 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. Nuclear power costs will only add to an increased costs for fixing an electric grid above and beyond what's needed for reliability. The utilities now considering nuclear power include Clark County PUD, Grant County PUD, and Pacific Power.
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 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