The current administration unveiled its support for nuclear energy last week, paving the way for the first new reactor construction since the 1970s and greater emphasis on nuclear energy nationwide. There are at least 104 radioactive reactors scattered across America. In Texas alone there are four known as, The Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant and the slightly bigger South Texas energy Project Nuclear Generation Station.
There are four nuclear stations in the Texas area alone. The power stations generate around 10% of power in the region. This is a concern for many because of the dangers associated with radioactive waste from power stations. In the first 10 months of 2009, Texas amassed 34.6 million megawatt-hours of power that was atomic.
Whilst sunny weather and wind are plentiful in the Texas area they do not produce enough power for the city of San Antonio. A 13 billion effort to extend a radioactive plant in the South of the region into one of the biggest in the nation took place last year. Discussions and debates have taken place to double the amount of radioactive reactors in the South and if this takes place then it could be open to terrorism.
Should Texas be granted the permission to install new atomic stations then residents could be at danger from terrorist attack. Officials believe that this project will be at risk from terrorist threat. There was a letter sent on June, 19th, 2006 to the Commission in control of nuclear regulations to put forward constructing a two 1,358 MWe Advanced Boiling Water Reactors at the very first Southern Texas project site.
If plans go ahead the the Southern Texas power plant is extended then the cost could amass 10 billion dollars. The question is where would this funding come from because this is a huge amount. We are already living in a falling market so costs so substantial have to be weighed up and debated prior to action being taken.
If the economy keeps failing the nuclear power stations might not be such a good idea. Investing in such plans would only add to the problem of debt across the nation. Texas is definitely one of the regions that has the largest amount of nuclear power plants. Currently it has at least 4 power plants in the area and this is probably going to rise in the future.
About the author: Jerry Dyess has specialized in Texas Energy for the past 7 years. Get more information on Texas Power rates.