Re: Greenpeace and Christopher Beyer

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@ix.netcom.com>]

Cost justification is an art unto itself. Sort of like a statistical 
analysis. To really determine the most economical option, the least 
cost long tern option is sometimes very difficult to assess, 
primarily due to the many assumptions necessary to be included in the 
calculation. Nuclear used to be the lowest cost provider, and in many 
areas, that is still true. The added cost borne by the customers 
today is primarily due to regulatory related overhead. This is very 
much like the LNT cost that has been debated on this forum for many 
months. But they are valid facts, and they do add to the cost. Some 
of the extremely conservative programs put into place have added cost 
ad nauseum. Some of these are due to the many anti-nuclear groups. 
Another factor in the cost to the customer was primarily due to 
resource loading. Well, downsizing has sure helped reduce this 
factor! Management also is a factor. Some of the past decisions have 
come back to haunt many utilities. Lack of ongoing maintenance 
eventually catches up with you. Trying to set availability records, 
while positive in the short run end up costing many more unplanned 
days off-line down the road. This is seen throughout the industry 
today. Extended downtime, and unplanned maintenance outages also 
erodes the public confidence in the plant's ability to operate 
effectively, and more improtantly, safely.

The other viable forms of generation also have their regulatory 
related costs, and they are catching up to those on the nuclear side. 
Scrubbers in coal plants, fopr one example.

One point all of the anti-nuclear forces never seem to address is,,, 
just how do they intend to provide power replacement if all the 
nuclear units should say, OK, tomorrow we will all shut down. It is 
dangerous and foolhardy to manipulate a country's ability to provide 
reliable and safe energy without having a contingency plan in place. 
If they have an answer, I'd like to hear it.

Sandy Perle
Director, Technical Operations
ICN Dosimetry Division
Office: (800) 548-5100 Ext. 2306 
Fax: (714) 668-3149

E-Mail: sandyfl@ix.netcom.com    

Homepages:

http://www.netcom.com/~sandyfl/home.html
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