Wind Energy and renewable energy blog

According to AllGov today, John McCain is trying to brand nuclear power – a renewable source of energy.

Members of the U.S. Senate are drafting a plan which would require utilities to supply 15% of their power from renewable energy sources by 2021 – shadowing a fiscal instrument that currently exists in the UK.

The proposals have led to a discussion over what defines a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). Senator John McCain attempted to change the requirement so that nuclear power is included in this definition of renewable energy.

McCain reportedly told his colleagues “Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, have cleaner sources of energy and diversity: I certainly think nuclear power meets all of those definitions”. The proposal was rejected.

In the UK nuclear power generators are not eligible to receive renewable obligation certificates. Even if they were it is unlikely that the additional revenue would be sufficient to cover decommissioning and waste disposal costs – which in the past have required huge public spending.

The UK publicly owned Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is responsible for the decommissioning the majority of UK nuclear power stations built between the early 60’s and the 80’s. The NDA plans to spend £2817.8 million (US $4,523.73 million) in 2009/ 2010 according to their business plan. £1612 million (US$ 2,588 million) of this comes from the taxpayer. Wind farms cost around £3500 (US $5600) per Megawatt (circa £7000 or US $11,240 per turbine) to decommission and in the UK financial ‘bonds’ are put into place by the wind energy developer to ensure that the taxpayer is not left with the financial liability.