The nuclear waste dilemma: An assessment of economic development opportunities for Carlsbad, New Mexico.

摘要

Conservative estimates indicate that by 2050, population growth and the development of third world economies will double the global demand for energy. Meeting this demand requires the development of new sources of energy, and more specifically the development of supplies of energy that will not contribute to the dilemma of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. Although there are a number of identified "green" energy sources to meet this demand, one often maligned resource -- nuclear energy -- possesses the greatest potential for supplying large quantities of energy, and at the lowest price.;The most significant problem with nuclear energy is that spent fuel rods have been accumulating at each individual power production facility for the past fifty years. The federal government, through its Department of Energy (DOE), was assigned the task of creating a repository for such wastes. DOE's answer to the problem has been the development of Yucca Mountain, yet that facility remains incomplete and inoperable today. The Obama Administration has more recently taken the step of reducing the annual budget for Yucca Mountain, signaling their desire for another solution. Developing an answer to the issue of long term radioactive waste disposal is paramount to the future of nuclear power, and ultimately to addressing the necessary increase in power supplies.;The City of Carlsbad, NM has been a long-standing proponent of nuclear waste disposal, having supported the development of the nation's first (and only) fully licensed facility for the interment of radioactive waste. The City's Mayor has been quoted as stating his wish for the future is that Carlsbad becomes "the Next Yucca Mountain". City leaders continue to voice their desire that Carlsbad become the chosen site for this second, higher-level waste facility, but the siting decision should consider all aspects of potential locations -- not just political will. This paper assesses, from an economic perspective, whether the support for the development of such a waste facility exists, and the resulting analysis suggests that there is enough evidence to encourage further exploration of the potential for Carlsbad to become the selected site to house our nation's high-level nuclear waste inventory.