Energy: Nuclear (Softcover and ebook)
Advanced Reactor Concepts and Fuel Cycle Technologies, 2005 Energy Policy Act (P.L. 109-58), Light Water Reactors, Small Modular Reactors, Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems, Nuclear Power 2010, Nuclear Power Plant Security, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Radioactive Waste Storage and Disposal, Yucca Mountain

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Nuclear power is now receiving renewed interest, prompted by volatile fossil fuel prices, possible carbon dioxide controls, and new federal subsidies and incentives. The 2005 Energy Policy Act (P.L. 109-58) authorized streamlined licensing that combines construction and operating permits, and tax credits for production from advanced nuclear power facilities.

 

2010, 640 pages Softcover, $29.95 ISBN: 1587331861   ISBN 13: 978-1-58733-186-2 Buy softcover from Amazon   Buy softcover from Barnes & Noble   Ebook: $7.99 EISBN 13: 9781587332180 Available from your bookseller or online

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Synopsis	Table of Contents	Related Resources

According to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy, nuclear energy provides about 20 percent of U.S. electricity through the operation of 104 nuclear reactors. Combined construction and operating license applications have been submitted for 28 new U.S. nuclear power plants, with eight more expected.

Nuclear power started coming online in significant amounts in the late 1960s. By 1975, in the midst of the oil crisis, nuclear power was supplying 9 percent of total electricity generation. Increases in capital costs, construction delays, and public opposition to nuclear power following the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 curtailed expansion of the technology, and many construction projects were canceled. Continuation of some construction increased the nuclear share of generation to 20 percent in 1990, where it remains currently.

Nuclear power is now receiving renewed interest, prompted by volatile fossil fuel prices, possible carbon dioxide controls, and new federal subsidies and incentives. The 2005 Energy Policy Act (P.L. 109-58) authorized streamlined licensing that combines construction and operating permits, and tax credits for production from advanced nuclear power facilities.

All U.S. nuclear plants are currently light water reactors (LWRs), which are cooled by ordinary water. DOE's nuclear energy research and development program includes advanced reactors, fuel cycle technology and facilities, and infrastructure support. DOE's Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems Initiative is developing advanced reactor technologies that could be safer than LWRs and produce high-temperature heat to make hydrogen. The Nuclear Power 2010 program is a government-industry, 50-50 cost-shared initiative. It focuses on deploying Generation III+ advanced light-water reactor designs, and is managed by DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy.

Congress designated Yucca Mountain, NV as the nation's sole candidate site for a permanent high-level nuclear waste repository in 1987 amid much controversy. To date no nuclear waste has been transported to Yucca Mountain. In March 2010, the Secretary of Energy filed to withdraw its application for a nuclear-waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Current law provides no alternative repository site to Yucca Mountain, and it does not authorize the DOE to open temporary storage facilities without a permanent repository in operation. Without congressional action, the default alternative to Yucca Mountain would be indefinite on-site storage of nuclear waste at reactor sites and other nuclear facilities. Private central storage facilities can also be licensed under current law. Such a facility has been licensed in Utah, but its operation has been blocked by the Department of the Interior.

Nuclear energy issues facing Congress include federal incentives for new commercial reactors, radioactive waste management policy, research and development priorities, power plant safety and regulation, nuclear weapons proliferation, and security against terrorist attacks.
 

Table of Contents

Introduction

1.  "The History of Nuclear Energy," by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
 

2.  "Understanding Radiation," by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology. . . . . . 21

3.  "Nuclear Energy--An Overview," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . 33
 

4.  "Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . 35

5.  "Nuclear Energy," by John Grossenbacher, Director, Idaho National Laboratory, October 1, 2009 . . . . . . 37

6.  "U.S. Energy: Overview and Key Statistics," Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report for Congress R40187, October 28, 2009 (see CRS Report R40187, June 27, 2014, 45-page PDF ) . . . . . . . 43

7.  "Nuclear Energy Policy," CRS Report for Congress RL33558, December 10, 2009  (see CRS Report RL33558, October 15, 2014, 51-page PDF ). . . . . . 81

8.  Statement for the Record by Marvin S. Fertel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear Energy Institute to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, March 18, 2009 . . . . . . . 113

9.  Statement of Thomas B. Cochran, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Nuclear Program, and Christopher E. Paine, Director, Nuclear Program, Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. on Nuclear Energy Developments Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, March 18, 2009 . . . . . . 127

10.  Written Testimony of Dale E. Klein, Chairman, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, March 18, 2009 . . . . . . 139

11.  "Advanced Reactor Concepts," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . 149

12.  "Fuel Cycle Research and Development," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . 151

13.  "Advanced Nuclear Power and Fuel Cycle Technologies: Outlook and Policy Options," CRS Report for Congress RL34579, July 11, 2008 . . . . . . . 155

14.  "Nuclear Fuels & Materials Spotlight," Idaho National Laboratory, March 2009 . . . . . . . 169

15.  "Science Based Fuel Cycle Research and Development," by Phillip Finck, Idaho National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, June 9, 2009 . . . . . . . 239

16.  "Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing: U.S. Policy Development," CRS Report for Congress RS22542, March 27, 2008 . . . . . . . 247

17.  "Light Water Reactor Sustainability Research and Development Program Plan Fiscal Year 2009-2013," Idaho National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, December 2009 . . . . . . . 257

18.  "Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison with Funding for Nuclear Energy, Fossil Energy, and Energy Efficiency R&D," CRS Report for Congress RS22858, April 9, 2008  (see CRS Report RS22858, February 2, 2016, 12-page PDF ) . . . . . . . 313

19.  "Light Water Reactor Sustainability," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . . 323

20.  "Energy Innovation Hub For Modeling and Simulation," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . . 327

21.  "Nuclear Energy University Programs," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . . 331

22.  "Next Generation Nuclear Plant Demonstration Project," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . . 335

23.  "Plutonium--238 Production Project," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . . 339

24.  "Small Modular Reactors," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . . 341

25.  "Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . . 343

26.  "Nuclear Power 2010," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . . 347

27.  "Nuclear Power 2010," by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . . 351

28.  "Idaho Nuclear Infrastructure," by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy . . . . . . . 353

29.  "Radioactive Waste: Production, Storage, Disposal, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission . . . . . . . 357

30.  "Civilian Nuclear Waste Disposal," CRS Report for Congress RL33461, September 4, 2009 . . . . . . . 395

31.  "Nuclear Waste Disposal: Alternatives to Yucca Mountain," CRS Report for Congress R40202, February 6, 2009 . . . . . . . 419

32.  "The YUCCA Mountain Litigation: Breach of Contract Under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982," CRS Report for Congress R40996, December 22, 2009 . . . . . . . 447

33.  Report to Congressional Requesters, U.S. Government Accountability Office on Nuclear Waste Management--Key Attributes, Challenges, and Costs for the Yucca Mountain Repository and Two Potential Alternatives, November 2009 . . . . . . . 469

34.  "Nuclear Power Plant Safety: Operations," by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology . . . . . . . 553

35.  "Security Spotlight," U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, May 2007 . . . . . . . 563

36.  "Nuclear Power Plant Security and Vulnerabilities," CRS Report for Congress RL34331, March 18, 2009   (see CRS Report RL34331, January 3, 2014, 20-page PDF ) . . . . . . . 575

37.  Report to Congressional Requesters, U.S. Government Accountability Office on Nuclear Safety--NRC's Oversight of Fire Protection at U.S. Commercial Nuclear Reactor Units Could be Strengthened, June 2008 . . . . . . . 589

38.  Other Resources From TheCapitol.Net . . . . . . . . . . 635

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Also see these related resources 39.  Other Resources . . . . . . . . . . 637 - Internet Resources - Books - Articles - Toys and Video

Simpsons Nuclear Power Plant Playset with Radioactive Homer	Lionel O Scale Operating Nuclear Reactor	History of Nuclear Power - Power And The People Set (DVD)	History -- Modern Marvels Nuclear Tech (DVD)
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