The exceptional performance of US nuclear power plants in 2004 has positioned the nuclear energy industry for even greater contributions to the nation’s energy security, economic growth and environmental success, according to the US Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).
Joe Colvin, the NEI’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement on 3rd February 2005 that thanks partly to impressive operating performance since the mid-1990s and the industry’s success in managing its business challenges, there is greater enthusiasm over the prospect of new nuclear plant construction than since the early days of nuclear power.
“It is clear that industry performance in 2004 remained at the exceptional level we’ve seen for the last several years,” Mr Colvin said. “We have 103 reactors operating (in the US) today – six fewer than 10 years ago – but today’s plants are more reliable and they produce more electricity.”
Preliminary data from 2004 shows that the nation’s power plants produced a record high of 786.5 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity compared to 764 TWh in 2003 and a previous record of 780 TWh in 2002 [see also News No. 17, 25th January, 2005].
Mr Colvin said industry consolidation over the past several years has put more reactors in the hands of larger generating companies for which nuclear is a core business. “These companies have the technical, financial and human resources to manage nuclear operations more safely and efficiently,” he said.
The statement noted that nuclear power plants operating in 31 states provide electricity to one in five US homes and businesses. They provide about 70% of the electricity generated by all emission-free sources of electricity in the country, including hydropower, wind and solar technologies, the statement said.
