Light Water Reactor fleet. (LWR)
Globally, the U.S. Has been a nuclear marketplace leader in reactor development and its safety, licensing and science. Advances in nuclear material management and disposal of nuclear waste is the responsibility of the federal government. Intensive research and development (R&D) are required to meet this challenge.
At a time when so many jobs are disappearing, it is estimated that 15,000 new jobs have been created in the nuclear industry in the past few years and over $4 billion invested. Hundreds of thousands of jobs will be created over the next few decades through energy projects and growth in the nuclear energy industry. This industry is responsible for much of the economic expansion seen over the years by providing jobs and economic benefits. Clean fuels, eg. Nuclear and coal-based power, and other renewable systems in the electric sector that require federal financing need a corporation like the U.S. Export-Import Bank to ensure their continued growth.
Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Lisa Murkowski, lead the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committees and recognized this need. Both senators support bipartisan legislation to create an administration for clean energy deployment.
Over the next few years, 26 plants awaiting licensing today could produce 62,000 construction jobs. Over the next 60 years, 700 permanent jobs will be secured once plants are operational. You are one of the leading sectors when it comes to providing jobs for American workers, Hover said.
According to Ventyx and the Energy department, based on the same criteria, nuclear plants create 500 new jobs compared to 90 for wind plants, 220 for coal plants and 60 for natural gas-fueled plants.
The first new nuclear projects since the late 70's are in licensing and site preparation phases and start of construction is about 3 years into the future. Still, plans for new nuclear plant construction has already significantly increased investment and job creation among equipment and supply companies.
Private investment in new power plants has created 14,000-16,000 jobs in the last 3 years.
In order to be able to start construction in 2011-2012, the nuclear industry plans to invest more than $8 billion over the next few years.
Amongst new nuclear power plant construction is the first floating power plant in history in St. Petersburg. Representing a 144-metres long nonself-propelled vessel, it will be used for sea water conversion at any territories close to the sea that are poorly developed. It will generate both electricity and heat and will have two nuclear reactors with 35,000 kilowatts capactiy each. According to constructors, every 12 years it will need to be reloaded and its projected lifespan is 38 years.
