On January 29, 2010, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, announced the formation of a Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future to provide recommendations for developing a safe, long-term solution to managing spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste. The chairs of the new commission are former Congressman Lee Hamilton and former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft.
In announcing the formation of the commission, Secretary Chu stated that nuclear energy provides clean, safe and reliable power. He further stated that the Obama Administration is committed to promoting nuclear power in the United States and to developing a safe, long-term solution for the management of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.
The formation of the commission comes after the Administration's decision not to proceed with licensing the Yucca Mountain waste repository. The commission will provide advice and recommendations regarding the storage, processing and disposal of civilian and defense spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste. The commission, which consists of 15 members, will produce an interim report within 18 months and a final report within 24 months.
While the formation of the commission represents a positive development, the energy industry will have to wait to see how the Administration intends to manage spent nuclear fuel. This issue has considerable importance given that many of the current nuclear plants will reach the end of their extended operating license periods between 2030 and 2035 and will begin to decommission their facilities at that time. The ability to decommission these plants fully requires a solution for permanent disposal of the spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste generated by these plants.
Moreover, many of these plants are in the Eastern half of the United States and the power currently being provided by these plants will need to be replaced. This energy conceivably can be replaced by new nuclear plants. Such plants would not generate emissions that cause global warming and can provide substantial energy at an attractive price. There is renewed interest in the construction of nuclear plants in the United States. Currently, there are more than 15 applications for more than 25 new reactors under active consideration before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. These new plants, however, also will need to dispose of their spent nuclear fuel, making the management of spent nuclear waste a significant issue.
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