US nuclear power is past its high water mark

Blouin News Blogs (blog) - ‎Sep 13, 2013‎

Nuclear power generation in the United States is falling. After increasing rapidly since the 1970s, electricity generation at U.S. nuclear plants began to grow more slowly in the early 2000s. It then plateaued between 2007 and 2010—before falling more than ...http://blogs.blouinnews.com/blouinbeatbusiness/2013/09/13/u-s-nuclear-power-is-past-its-high-water-mark/

U.S. nuclear power is past its high water mark

September 13, 2013 by Earth Policy Institute

San Onofre nuclear power plant. Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images/Mark Ralston

Nuclear power generation in the United States is falling. After increasing rapidly since the 1970s, electricity generation at U.S. nuclear plants began to grow more slowly in the early 2000s. It then plateaued between 2007 and 2010—before falling more than 4% over the last two years. Projections for 2013 show a further 1% drop. With reactors retiring early and proposed projects being abandoned, U.S. nuclear power’s days are numbered.

The nuclear industry’s troubles began well before the 1979 accident at Pe