Green Guru Network

Here is my question: "What is the life-cycle greenhouse gas emission impact of a nuclear power plant?"

I am tired of hearing that nuclear power is zero emissions or carbon free. That is just not true. We cannot ignore the entire uranium mining, milling, and refining process, nor should we ignore plant constuction/maintenance process.  After all, cement is a huge emissions source and nuclear plants require lots of cement.

Nuclear power may produce lower emissions per unit of electricity produced than coal or natural gas, but is not zero.

With your help, we can locate good, reliable research on the life cycle emissions impact of the nuclear plant, more specifically, the pressurized light water type nuclear plant, e.g. Indian Point 2 and # in Buchanan. See this blog post on nukes-emissions I wrote just to get the ball rolling.

Or leave a comment or research lead here. Thanks!

The rationale for why we should study IP energy replacement study is as follows: 

1. Our New York State Energy Planning Board is in the midst of preparing the 2013 State Energy Plan; 

2. The electricity load in the metropolitan New York City area, including Westchester County, has grown historically at about 1 percent per year; 

3. The Indian Point Energy Center nuclear power plants provide a significant percent of the electricity for Southeastern New York region; 

4. Uncertainties exist over the future of Indian Point’s continued operation; 

5. The State does not yet have a detailed, independent analysis of how electricity generated by Indian Point would be replaced should Indian Point cease to operate for any reason; 

6. Several options exist that, collectively and in conjunction with other actions, could replace the need for Indian Point’s electric generation capacity. 

So, let's ask the Governor to initiate a study immediately by an independent professional agency or commission to examine concrete steps to replace the electricity currently generated at the Indian Point Energy Center. Read the full article in the Croton Ossining Patch..