Investing in Energy: A Primer on the Economics of the Energy Industry

The Benefits

The most significant benefit associated with nuclear energy is that of cost. When compared to other energy sources, it is one of the most economical fuel sources to generate electricity. The economics compare, on a kilowatt basis, with that of hydro power. This means that it is one of the cheapest forms of energy on the market today.

However, the cost to expand an existing nuclear plant is considerable and increasing every year. There isn't a single power-generation company that is rushing to expand its nuclear-generating capacity. For instance, even if a U.S.-based nuclear power generation company wanted to expand its capacity, it takes approximately 42 months for federal regulators at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to ...