Companies Await Fate of Nuclear Loan Guarantees

摘要

Weak natural gas prices, coupled with no price put on carbon nor any federal action on loan guarantees could spell trouble for companies still looking to build new nuclear units in the US. A group led by Southern Company was awarded the first conditional nuclear loan guarantee of $8.3 billion in February from the US Department of Energy for two new nuclear units at the Vogtle Plant in Georgia (NGW Feb.22,p9). Another $10.3 billion remains in the federal program for loan guarantees, but has yet to be awarded.