FERC Chairman Says We Don't Need New Coal or Nukes

[Capt Worley PE]

^You're conspiracy theory makes a good deal of sense.

 

[Chucktown PE]

^^^ But at 1.8 cents per KWH, why would you WANT to ramp down a nuclear unit? (presuming you can get it out)

One question I would like to ask is how many steak dinners did GE have to provide before the Chairman of FERC agreed to memorize and quote their sales brochure? Or was it something other than steaks, hmm?

I'm about one rational brain cell short of signing onto a conspiracy theory that GE, through the media outlet it owns and through it's political contributions, is fomenting a faux global warming/ CO2/carbon crisis to position itself as the administrator of a federally mandated Cap & Trade program on carbon emissions and preferred provider of renewable energy through it's wind group. Somebody noted to me that the Westinghouse AP design does seem to be winning the domestic nuke race.

Then I heard a quote the other day attributed to Harry Reid (sorry, don't know the source) that said we need a Cap & Trade program ...because the government "needs that income to pay for the healthcare plan".

HFS. Don't Panic?

Um, you did know that GE is going to be the broker of the Cap and Trade program through its capital group right? But there isn't a conflict of interest there or anything. I'll find the article and post it when I'm not so busy.

 

[Supe]

The statement that you can't ramp a nuke is partially correct. The current nuclear fleet is no good for peeking duty. Rapid load changes cause fuel rods to fail early. I'm not sure what types of load following the new units are designed for.

5% per minute ramp load changes between 25% and 100% of full operating power. Load follow <10% at +- 2% per minute.

 

[Flyer_PE]

5% per minute ramp load changes between 25% and 100% of full operating power.

The plant I started at, 2 1130MWe units commissioned in the early '80s, would never put up with that. We would have been tripping off-line once a week.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

For having two math degrees, he sure sucks at basic algebra.

Did you ever notice math majors can't do math? All they can do is proofs and theoretical stuff.

 

[KEG]

^^^ But at 1.8 cents per KWH, why would you WANT to ramp down a nuclear unit? (presuming you can get it out)
Then I heard a quote the other day attributed to Harry Reid (sorry, don't know the source) that said we need a Cap & Trade program ...because the government "needs that income to pay for the healthcare plan".

Heard this one also. Nice, real nice.

 

[Supe]

Somebody noted to me that the Westinghouse AP design does seem to be winning the domestic nuke race.

...

 

[chaosiscash]

GE is working on a big enrichment facility out in Wilmington, NC, however. Maybe they are hedging their bets a little.

 

[Flyer_PE]

All six of the domestic contracts for new nuclear power is the AP1000 design. No shocker there, as Shaw/Stone & Webster is doing the EPC on all of them and they own a 20% stake in Westinghouse.

I'm pretty sure South Texas is going with a BWR design built by Toshiba. All the others that I'm aware of are going with the AP1000.

 

[Supe]

I'm pretty sure South Texas is going with a BWR design built by Toshiba. All the others that I'm aware of are going with the AP1000.

Very well may be, I only knew of the SC, GA, and FL jobs as being locked in.

The AP1000 jobs in China are also on their way. All of the concrete was poured in Sanmen earlier this month.