The possible re-awakening of the US nuclear industry follows the June decision by the Senate to reject an amendment to strike nuclear loan guarantees from S14, the Energy Policy Act 2003. Under the measure, the US government would provide loan guarantees of 50% of the cost of new nuclear plants up to 8400MWe. The guarantees are part of a broader package of pro-nuclear measures in the bill, which include the permanent reauthori-sation of the Price-Anderson nuclear insurance act, and $1.1 billion to develop an advanced gas-cooled reactor at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory to demonstrate both electricity and hydrogen production. At first it might not be viewed as much of a step forward, but given the nature of the industry and the previous pace of change, many commentators see it as the start of a slow, but definite renaissance.
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