NEI tells DOE industry is committed to new plants

Washington (Platts)--4Mar2004

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) assured DOE of the industry's commitment to new plant construction, despite current business and market conditions that preclude a near-term decision. NEI President Joe Colvin made the statement in a March 2 letter to DOE Deputy Secretary Kyle McSlarrow that argued for more funds for DOE's Nuclear Power 2010 program. DOE's fiscal 2005 budget asked for $10.2-million for the program, a 47% reduction from the $19.3-million the program received in FY-04. At a Feb. 10 congressional hearing, McSlarrow had suggested that the cut came because DOE did not have enough of an indication from industry about new plant construction to pursue the program "in a more aggressive way." Colvin argued that DOE funding should be at a level of $60- to $80-million a year, with comparable funds being spent by the industry, in order for the program to succeed. The program, DOE said, is designed to "pave the way" for an industry decision by the end of 2005 to order a new nuclear power plant that would be in operation early in the next decade.