At a Climate One event, Jacques Besnainou, CEO of AREVA, points out that although nuclear power plants are expensive to build, they are able to generate a great deal of revenue for utilities companies. “The 104 [plants] that exist in this country are cash cows,” says former commissioner of the California Energy Commission, Jeff Byron. “For a large utility, a couple of nuclear plants might generate a quarter of their profits.” In the opposition, Lucas Davis points out that the overall cost of nuclear plants – including waste disposal – is about $0.10 per kilowatt-hour compared to $0.05/kWh for natural gas. “That’s a big gap,” points out Davis, professor at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.
Speakers:
Jacques Besnainou, CEO, AREVA Inc.
Jeff Byron, Former Commissioner, California Energy Commission
Lucas Davis, Professor, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
Recorded: April 8, 2011
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