Biden launches $6B effort to save distressed nuclear plants

Nypost ^ | 04/19/2022 | AP

[ChicagoConservative27]

The Biden administration is launching a $6 billion effort to save nuclear power plants at risk of closing, citing the need to continue nuclear energy as a carbon-free source of power that helps to combat climate change.

A certification and bidding process opened Tuesday for a civil nuclear credit program that is intended to bail out financially distressed owners or operators of nuclear power reactors, the US Department of Energy told The Associated Press exclusively, shortly before the official announcement. It’s the largest federal investment in saving financially distressed nuclear reactors.

[ChicagoConservative27]

Since when do they like nuclear plants?

[EEGator]

I’m confused. I think I agree with something they’re doing?...
Is this a trick?

[granite]

They are like gold mines, they don’t need bailouts.

[daniel1212]

It is sensible, but necessity can dictate such to those known for the contrary.

[Bayard]

Since they have become rudderless without a charismatic idea they can use to prop themselves up in power. Its just random ideas at this point.

[LastDayz]

What BS. Since when are our nuke facilities distressed and what does that even mean? More likely further payoffs to fellow cronies.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Yes, I remember back in '70s all the libs, and Jane Fondas, and weirdo defrocked priests were having marathon tantrums over nuclear power. They even invented a movie "China Syndrome". "Nuclear Power Bad!". It was a continual wailing. Now the libs are saying "Nuclear Power Good!".

But it is too little too late. The lawyers and regulators have got nuclear energy hamstrung beyond hope. Just a feasibility study for a nuclear plant would probably cost a billion dollars, once you factor in all the lawyers, and nimbies, and regulations. It would be a Herculean task, and require the intervention of God to get a new nuclear power plant designed and built.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

It takes many years to shut down a nuclear plant. The planning process alone takes years. Once the steps are set in motion, you quickly reach a point where you just cannot say “Whoops, we changed our minds. Let’s not shut it down, let’s keep it running.” It’s not like walking up to the wall light switch and deciding to not turn the light off.

A close family member is working on the Diablo Canyon plant shutdown in California, so I have this on good authority.

[Retain Mike]

When you think carefully you realize nuclear power is the only alternative energy and that all else has its source in the sun.

[31R1O]

Hydropower can produce reliable base load scale energy but it has trade offs as well.

[BitWielder1]

They should build more nuclear plants, especially of they want the fleet of mandatory electric cars to run carbon free.
(Discounting manufacturing, maintenance and recycling/disposal of course.)

[Mr. K]

Will this disappear like Solyndra money?

[wgmalabama]

Wow. Biden and I agree nuclear power is good. Must be the apocalypse.

[DannyTN]

"When you think carefully you realize nuclear power is the only alternative energy and that all else has its source in the sun.:

And we wouldn't want to be dependent on the sun. What if it goes out?

[CatOwner]

More likely further payoffs to fellow cronies.

That was my first thought.

[PROCON]

Will this disappear like Solyndra money?

My suspicion too, another democratic slush fund.

[TexasGator]

"They are like gold mines, they don’t need bailouts."

[monkeyshine]

The Germans are going through the same problem. They suddenly realized their windmills aren't cutting it and they are too dependent on Russian imports - so they are trying to reverse their nuclear shutdown processes. But the companies are telling the government "sorry, too late".

“The continued operation of our Isar 2 nuclear power plant beyond the legal deadline of 2022 is not an option for us,” a spokesperson of the utility Eon, which operates one reactor, told Rheinische Post."

[Boiler Plate]

Gold Mines? Why haven’t they been building more then?

[George from New England]

He knows its too late to save em. Just more $$$ down the -—t hole.