Important, USNEF Comments to DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement for Small Modular Reactors, PDF file

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Important, USNEF Comments to DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement for Small Modular Reactors, PDF file 02-14-12 Dear Friends: In addition to our Yucca Mountain and conventional nuclear power advocacy we have been assessing the new SMR (small modular reactor) "design technologies" for nearly a year. Finally there is some activity from the DOE, a request for COMMENTS to their Cost-Shared Industry Partnership Program for SMRs. I have attached our response (DOE SMR Proposals USNEF) and (Attachment A-SMR Design Goals) as outlined by the DOE. Our comment is somewhat detailed. It is not necessary that your comment extend to this depth so we have listed some of the key comment points below. It would be very helpful to get as many comments about this announcement to the DOE ASAP, let's speak up and have our voice heard. Those who understand the importance to participate, "please" notify us that you will do so by acknowledging by this return email:    comments@usnuclearenergy.org    Don't deliberate, please participate. THESE ARE OUR KEY POINTS OF COMMENT: * An important issue is to encourage funding of more than just two SMR designs. The U.S. will be competing globally with many new designs; we need more to be in the competition. *Safety/Licensing: We should point out that both safety and licensing recommendations from the DOE for SMR designs should apply "perspective-of-scale" to the DOE safety and licensing process based on size proportion. If the safety and licensing DOE review for a 1.6 GW reactor is 6 years, they should respectively be, 1.12 years for a 300 MW reactor and 1.5 months for a 25 MW unit. *Safety/Licensing: We should point out that both safety and licensing recommendations from the DOE for SMR designs should apply "perspective-of-scale" to the DOE safety and licensing process based on size proportion. If the safety and licensing DOE review for a 1.6 GW reactor is 6 years, they should respectively be, 1.12 years for a 300 MW reactor and 1.5 months for a 25 MW unit. *Economics and Financing: Based on our review of the FOA design goals we believe that some type of an equalizer mechanism be applied to the process that would balance the considerations for the various unit sizes, 300 MW, 150 MW, and/or below 75 MW. "Every" factor of economics and financing is effected by "perspective-of-scale" including startup verses 40 year old nuclear vendors. Comments are due by the 17th of FEB-2012 email Layne Isom at: isomla@id.doe.gov   Other links referring to this announcement: http://nextbigfuture.com/2012/01/department-of-energy-will-fund-up-to.html  http://www.neimagazine.com/story.asp?sectionCode=132&storyCode=2061640  http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2012-01-25/energy-plan-could-boost-small-reactor-research?v=1327504952  http://www.ne.doe.gov/newsroom/2012PRs/nePR012012.html  ----------------------------------------------------------------------  US Nuclear Energy Foundation is 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Anyone making a financial donation to our foundation can claim it as a tax deduction on their IRS tax filing. Our non-profit federal tax identification number is: 27-0603991. To contribute online click on this PayPal button, it will open the DONATION page at our PayPal account and you can contribute funds via your credit card. Thanks for your support! The PayPal online donation default is $25.00; it does support adding to the quantity box.  Or mail a check to USNEF PO Box 2867, Sparks, NV 89432-2867 As always, kindly forward our newsletter to your contacts with business and nuclear energy interests.   Urge them to visit our" Join Mail List" TAB on our website.    Join Mail List Click here