(CHARLOTTE,
N.C. – February 27, 2013) – Based on the significant amount of
misinformation contained in its press release and presented in today’s
press conference, Taxpayers for Common Sense appears to be significantly
misinformed on the importance and development of advanced, clean energy
technologies for America’s future.
The Babcock
& Wilcox Company (B&W) has invested substantial resources in its
small modular reactor (SMR) program because we believe in the promise
of this technology. The U.S. Department of Energy wisely decided to
support SMR development with a cost-share program so that this
beneficial technology can be brought to market and new American jobs can
be created.
Governments throughout the world
invest in the development of advanced energy technologies that will
deliver cost, safety and environmental benefits to their citizens. In
order to maintain the United States’ position as the global leader in
this industry, our leaders have for many decades supported promising new
ideas that have led to innovations in emissions control technologies,
nuclear energy, biofuels, hydro power, wind, natural gas and other
areas. Support from the Obama administration and the current Congress
has been bipartisan and equally strong because SMRs hold the same
potential for game-changing innovation.
The
development of SMRs will produce new employment opportunities for
Americans – with the companies that design them, with manufacturers and
companies in the supply chain, with construction firms and with the
utilities that own and operate these plants. U.S. investment in SMRs is
an investment in jobs for Americans.
Taxpayers for Common Sense mistakenly characterizes SMR technology.
SMRs are different from naval reactor technology, and in fact will require significant review and approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission before they can be built.
SMRs are different from naval reactor technology, and in fact will require significant review and approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission before they can be built.
The B&W mPowerTM reactor
is designed to be safe and produce clean energy. Its passive safety
systems and secure underground containment make it an attractive, safe
option when compared to traditional nuclear reactors. Each module also
will provide zero-emission operations, contributing to the reduction of
an estimated 57 million metric tons of CO2 during the
lifetime of each reactor. And despite Taxpayers for Common Sense’s
outrageous claim, SMR power plants are not designed for construction in
suburban neighborhoods. In fact, as with any other major facility,
communities, local and state governments will have a role in decisions
to site these small, safe, efficient reactors.
B&W
is committed to the development and deployment of SMRs and we’re
committed to America’s future as the world leader in clean energy. We’re
grateful for the support we’ve received from the U.S. Department of
Energy, state and federal government leaders, our project partners and
the public for our work. We continue to look for cooperative
partnerships and outreach opportunities with those interested in
deploying SMRs and we’re excited to do our part to bring this promising
new technology to market.
About B&W
Headquartered
in Charlotte, N.C., The Babcock & Wilcox Company is a leader in
clean energy technology and services, primarily for the nuclear, fossil
and renewable power markets, as well as a premier advanced technology
and mission critical defense contractor. B&W has locations worldwide
and employs approximately 12,700 people, in addition to approximately
10,400 joint venture employees. Learn more at www.babcock.com.
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ATOMIC POWER REVIEW commentary follows.
Yesterday,
I (and a number of others) were made aware of the upcoming "media
event" that Taxpayers for Common Sense was holding. The release from
this organization made it all too clear that nobody involved with the
event really understands SMR, or for that matter, nuclear technology.
The
term SMR is most commonly debated in terms of output -- that is to say,
how much energy a power plant develops. However, the real key factor
in SMR plants is NOT the output. It's the modular construction - and in
the case of most of the light water cooled and moderated designs, this
means moving the steam generators and coolant pumps inside the reactor
pressure vessel. That design alteration is significant as compared to
the reactor plant portions of large commercial nuclear generating
stations.
This
concept of an integral component SMR is neither new nor untested.
B&W came up with such an integral design all the way back in 1962. A
reactor plant developing 38 MWt and 10,000 shaft horsepower was
installed in the German built nuclear powered ore carrier Otto Hahn,
which first achieved criticality in 1968. Commercial service with this
ship began in 1970. What remains to be seen is how the design makes it
through the present-day licensing process.
You
can find many more details about the B&W / Generation mPower SMR
plant by reading the interview I did with Generation mPower's Matt Miles
on this site. Click here to see it.
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