Contrary to what politicians and the media would like to tell the public, the country, especially the construction industry, is in a recession that is not over with yet. It looks like it will be getting worse. This is in spite of the stimulus spending.
The United States of America has an opportunity to green up the country and pull out of this recession with a lasting benefit! With Stimulus Funds no less. All it takes is a few billion in loan guarantees and instituting a few new regulations. Imagine that, loan guarantees and some new regulations that just may be beneficial to the citizens of this country.
The power industry in the United States currently has approximately 3,000 power plants of varying sizes. Most of these are burning coal, natural gas and other some other combustible fuels that generate carbon dioxide. New regulations need to prohibit the use of these fuels for generating power at the existing plant when its replacement comes on line. These prohibitions need to be phased in over a twenty or thirty year time period so the economy and affected companies can adjust and plan for the future. These new regulations need to prohibit the EPA, DOE and other agencies from simple things like the EPA suing utilities and the DOE from issuing a constant stream of changing regulations. They need to enable people to chart a long term course of action.
These facilities need to be replaced with power plants that will not kill raptors (wind power), inhibit spawning salmon (hydro) or impact the desert tortoise (solar). They should be replaced with stable base load units. Loan commitments and guarantees, not just from the government, need to be issued to help develop and bring these plants on line. New regulations are needed to eliminate existing regulations that inhibit and prohibit these new plants. We need regulations that will truly fast track the process. If a utility company has an existing plant, let the regulations allow additional ones at or adjacent to the existing ones – now!
This is truly a Nuclear Option. Convert the Untied Sates to 100% nuclear generated power in twenty to thirty years. This would mean starting 100 nuclear plants a year for a thirty year period. For a twenty year plan it is 150 plants a year. New 1,000 MW plants cost about $8 to $10 billion each. The construction of each plant can be done in five to six years with the proper controls and the efficiencies of volume. The workforce on each plant will be close to 5,000 workers plus staff. Think what this does for unemployment? Think what this would do for industries such as manufacturing and mining to support his effort. Think of the education requirements for such a large, skilled workforce. Think of the trickle down effect on the entire economy.
No company will start down this path until the politicians quit changing the rules and regulations. No company can embark on such large expenditures without loan guarantees or assistance. No company can achieve this without substantial reforms of the regulations. No company will start this without the guarantee of the rules not changing for the worse once the program has started. In thirty years the United States can have the cleanest, greenest power source of any country.
Do the political leaders have the gumption to clean up their acts? Will the American people have the opportunity of a lifetime to benefit from a great 30 year economic run? I hope it will come to pass.
