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Nuclear Renaissance?

Five years ago, the nuclear industry was trumpeting a nuclear renaissance. Out of the original pool of 17 applicants that intended to participate in the revival, 5 applicants have suspended or outright canceled their plans to build a new reactor. Today, Unistar, joins those ranks. I am reminded of a quip made by former Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner, Peter Bradford, “In a real renaissance, the masterpieces precede the applause.”

UniStar halts application for Nine Mile

The Associated Press

SCRIBA, N.Y. – UniStar has asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to temporarily suspend its review of an application to build a new reactor at Nine Mile Point in upstate New York.

NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said Monday that UniStar made the request because of uncertainties over the availability of federal loan guarantee money for new nuclear power plants. The proposed Nine Mile Point 3 plant on Lake Ontario was not selected as a finalist for federal loan guarantees.

Baltimore-based UniStar said that without federal loan guarantees, the company cannot continue to invest in new nuclear projects at the same pace. The company plans to continue to push for an additional round of federal loan guarantee funding.

Allison Fisher is the Energy Organizer for Public Citizen