You weren’t aware that loans to build nuclear power plants were guaranteed by the federal government?

They had to, you see. No one would loan them money to build a plant because of the risk.

So, you might ask, “If the federal government did not guarantee the loans, would there be any nuclear power plants built in the United States from now on?”

No.

You may resent the fact that if you decide to borrow some money to build a factory, a restaurant, a day-care center, etc., the government isn’t going to guarantee a dime of it.

That’s very small minded of you. Isn’t obvious that the nuclear industry though its exemplary safety record, environmental activism and continuing careful and cost free disposal of nuclear waste, has earned these enormous government subsidies? (Whoops, they don’t do any of that, do they? – Oh, well, it’s still obvious that they are deserving and you aren’t.)

Maybe you should get mad?

James Pilant

Federal Loan Guarantees for the Construction of Nuclear Power Plants CBO's analysis examines the main factors that influence the cost to the federal government of providing loan guarantees for the construction of nuclear power plants. It includes illustrative cost estimates using the methodology specified by the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, which determines the budgetary cost of the program, and also estimates prepared on a fair-value basis … Read More

via Point/CounterPoint