Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (July 13 2011) / by Bruce Biewald
http://thebulletin.org/web-edition/op-eds/energy-planning-response-to-climate-change-accurate-costs-are-critical
Article Highlights
- During the 1970s and 1980s, the actual costs (in inflation-adjusted dollars) of building US nuclear power plants were about three times as much as the estimated costs.
- So far, modern nuclear plants are also proving to be prone to cost escalation, and much more expensive than early proponents of the “nuclear renaissance” estimated.
- With billions of dollars at stake, it is important to revisit cost assumptions for major energy projects frequently in order to recognize the latest data and trends [H/T: Real Climate Economics]
