U.S. to Get First New Nuclear Power Plant in 30 Years

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a site permit for construction of the nation's first new nuclear power plant in over 30 years. The Department of Energy hails the new Exelon Generation Company's Clinton site, in central Illinois, as an achievement of President Bush's Advanced Energy Initiative, intended to increase the role of nuclear power in meeting the nation's future energy demands.

"Government's role is to create an environment in which clean energy can flourish, and I'm proud to say that we're helping doing just that," said Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman in a press release.

The Excelon Company also runs the Three Mile Island Unit 1 nuclear power plant. That's the one that did not almost melt down in 1979.

The Nuclear Downside? At the same time, the Department of Health and Human Services has launched a new online toolkit to help medical professionals respond to nuclear radiation emergencies. Along with the now requisite information on terrorist dirty bombs, HHS also offers medical guidance on nuclear reactor accidents and accidents involving transportation, like shipping nuclear waste to the Yucca Mountain, Nevada storage facility.

Also See:
Yucca Mountain Gaffes Costing Taxpayers Millions
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Safe for 1 Million Years, EPA Claims
DOE Approves Nevada Nuclear Waste Site
Bush Energy Policy: Make More, Use Less