D-Day for Congress: Did NRC Delays Kill GE Nuclear?

D-Day for Congress: Economic Recovery and Nuclear Energy

1. Congress must act to save the economy & nuclear energy

• The U.S. economy needs solid growth not just stimulus
• Congress must take joint leadership responsibility for economic recovery with the President developing a long-term economic strategy
• Congress must take full responsibility for funds appropriated to assure monies arespent effectively

2. Congress should authorize a bipartisan task force to explore solutions

• Find the country’s best industry experience and economic expertise
• Initiate a task force with the Executive branch and industry to find answers
• Task them to figure out the best choices for the country and present them

3. To restore economic growth, Congress must ask federal agencies to help

• Look for ways to improve industry support or substitute services
• Look at all possible ways to help the economy no restrictions on how
• Figure out if innovation support should become part of ongoing federal operations
• Change regulatory perspective from “it’s not our problem” to “we will help you”
• Establish accountability for changes that challenge agency status quo
• Target high-value agencies (by economic sectors) with high-value contributions
• Identify and run proof of demonstration pilot projects to prove the path forward
• Add emergency appropriations, if necessary, to get agency work done

4. Congress should authorize a Proof of concept pilot

• High value: Nuclear Energy

1. New Construction $200-300 billion (20-30 units; 1-2% of economy)
2. Energy relevance today addressing carbon concerns
3. Historical performance high cost, low innovation, poor construction project performance 1975-1994
4. Entrenched mindsets new technology barriers at NRC
5. Ultra-high costs cited in the press (Time Jan 2009), historically Academia leadership in contrast with industry

• Consider the U.S. NRC

1. Does the NRC discourage innovation?
2. Can nuclear regulation be indifferent to costs?
3. Does industry insider use pose conflict of interest or benefit the industry with qualified expertise?
4. Should academia leadership exclude industry participation in its own regulation?
5. Does NRC’s 1974 Congressional charter still apply?