Costs and results of federal incentives for commercial nuclear energy

Journal Article · · Energy Systems and Policy; (United States)

OSTI ID:6283143

Bezdek, R H; Wendling, R M ^[1]

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1. Management Information Services, Inc., Washington, D.C. (United States)

This paper (1) estimates the total costs of federal expenditures in support of incentives for the development of commercial nuclear energy through 1988, and (2) analyzes the results and benefits to the nation of this federal investment. The federal incentives analyzed include research and development, regulation of commercial nuclear energy, tax incentives, waste management and disposal, enrichment plants, liability insurance, the uranium mining industry, and all other federal support activities. The authors estimate that net federal incentives totaled about $45-50 billion (1988 dollars). They estimate the results of the federal incentives, focusing on six categories, namely, electric energy produced, the total (direct plus indirect) economic benefits of the industry created, R and D program benefits, value of energy imports displaced, environmental effects, and health, safety, and risk effects. The results total $1.9 trillion, with approximately $250-300 billion identified as net benefits. The authors conclude that the high return on the investment justified federal incentives for nuclear energy development over the past four decades and that the federal government and the nation have received a significant return on the incentives investment.

• OSTI ID: 6283143
• Journal Information: Energy Systems and Policy; (United States), Vol. 15:4; ISSN 0090-8347
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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29 ENERGY PLANNING
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NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
COMMERCIALIZATION
COMPILED DATA
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
COST ESTIMATION
ENERGY POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HEALTH HAZARDS
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ISOTOPE SEPARATION PLANTS
LIABILITIES
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RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
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TAXES
URANIUM MINES
USA
DATA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HAZARDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
MINES
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUMERICAL DATA
POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
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290600 - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy
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