Not only are U.S. nuclear plants being taken for granted but their value is not being recognized by competitive markets, said Marvin Fertel, chief the Nuclear Energy Institute. If we are serious about carbon reductions, we must be serious about making sure the nuclear plants keep operating, Fertel insisted. He said the question for the industry right now is how do we get recognition for the nuclear plant value correctly in the energy markets and the capacity markets? The recent shutdown of Pilgrim nuclear plant and the announced retirement of the James A. FitzPatrick nuclear plant shows what is at stake, he warned.
If the U.S. takes these nuclear plants for granted in competitive markets, you run the risk of losing them and we are not asking for subsidies (as wind and solar receive), we are not asking for special treatment (as natural gas receives). We are just asking for fair treatment, he said. The industry is seeking to improve its market competitiveness by reducing its generating costs without diminishing the excellence of their performance or safety. Simultaneously, he said, the entire fleet will need to operate smarter and more efficiently.
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