Flying Under the Radar

Make 'em small, no one will notice.

Rendering of the Westinghouse small modular reactor

 The Westinghouse Electric Company has lined up Ameren, a St. Louis-based electric company, as a partner for its small modular reactor project. Getting a strong indication of commercial interest is critical because the Nuclear Regulatory Commission can review only a few of the many proposed reactor designs and gives priority in the licensing process to those with a stronger chance of getting built.

Read the full story in the New York Times article "Will the stars align for small nuclear reactors?" by Matthew L. Wald.

For me the question remains the same whether the reactors are big or small - What are the plans for the long-term storage of spent fuel?????

The Department of Energy (DOE) needs to figure out the answer to this question before they start doling out taxpayers dollars to support private business endeavors (aka Corporate Welfare). Westinghouse Electric Company will be asking you the taxpayers for a handout of up to $450 million. 

It's funny how the Republicans can be against government spending unless it's their own arms that are being outstretched for a handout.

Legislators such as Rep. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, and Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, who championed legislation to advance nuclear development in Missouri, were equally encouraged.

“We have to have a plan for the future,” said Rep. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, whose district includes Ameren’s Callaway plant. “I think this is great – the possibilities it creates for us.”

Oh, by the way, did I happen to mention who owns Westinghouse Electric Company?

6 Sep. 2011 - TOKYO - Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) announced today that the company will increase its ownership in Westinghouse Electric by acquiring all shares (20% of the holding companies of Westinghouse Electric) currently held by Nuclear Energy Holdings LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Shaw Group Inc., the U.S. engineering company. The purchase will increase Toshiba’s ownership of Westinghouse from 67% to to 87%.

Way to go once again ~ pumping up American Business.