“The Three Mile Island reactor accident happened in 1979. Fortunately, because of the design of our reactors, with their containment building, external damage and radiation were very small, but it was clear that operator training was inadequate to handle such an emergency. The NRC began strengthening its safety requirements. While industry protested that stringent regulation would cripple it, something very different happened. U.S. nuclear reactors went from a typical 60 percent capacity factor to more than 90 percent today, the world’s best. U.S. licensing and training requirements are today regarded worldwide as the gold standard. The industry also became more profitable in the years after regulation.”
– Burton Richter, member of the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee in a letter published in the Washington Post yesterday
Share Posted in: Energy Security, Government & Policy, News, Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Power Plants, Policy, Quote of the Day | View Comments
