Nuclear power is a carbon emission-free source of energy. Could nuclear power be the solution to our oil import dependence?
Reducing oil import dependence is not likely to happen through the electric power sector because very little of our nation’s electricity comes from oil-fired generation. Nuclear power could, however, be part of a broader solution to our oil import dependence if the transportation sector moved to using more battery power than liquid fuel. One such avenue that has been proposed is through the adoption of the “plug-in” hybrid motor vehicle that could use electricity instead of gasoline as a main fuel. The 2005 energy bill extended the U.S. federal insurance program that limits liability for nuclear power-plant accidents and included a number of measures aimed at enhancing the security of commercial nuclear reactors. Moreover, risk insurance to cover unexpected cost overruns caused by regulatory delays was authorized, as was a production tax credit of 1.8 cents per kWh for the first 6000 MW built before 2021. The new regulations have led to a flurry of permit applications for the construct
