Assuring a Future U.S.-Based Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise (2012) / Chapter Skim
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5 Energy and Power Generation
5 Energy and Power Generation
Pages 73-88
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. At present, coal is the dominant energy source for electricity production (Figure 5-1)
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The Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in New Jersey was the first large-scale commercial nuclear power plant in the United States. It remains in commission as the oldest operating nuclear plant in the United States, having run since December 1969; its operator, Exelon Nuclear, plans to
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2-. Similar gamma irradiation produces peroxide in groundwater near stored used nuclear fuel and near uranium-containing nuclear waste materials (Burns 2010)
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close it in 2019. At present there are 104 nuclear power plants operating in the United States, producing 19.6 percent of all domestic electricity (NEI 2011a)
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Overall, the nuclear share of electricity generation in the United States is projected to remain stable or on a slight
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. Although the United States has the longest history of production of nuclear energy and the largest nuclear generating capacity, France currently has the most ambitious nuclear program with the world's largest percentage of electric ity production from nuclear reactors.
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The nuclear power industry requires professionals with nuclear and radiochemistry expertise in each of these domains: • Design of advanced nuclear fission reactors and implementation of both transformational and incremental improvements in reactor technology; • Operation of existing nuclear reactors;
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• Improvements and maintenance of components of the existing "open" nuclear fuel cycle; • Storage and monitoring of used nuclear fuel; • Safe and secure ultimate disposal of radioactive wastes streams from nuclear power plants; • Environmental monitoring of all aspects of nuclear power; and • Nuclear data (for example, half-lives, nuclear cross sections for neutronic processes including fission as a function of energy, and nuclear energy levels)
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Specific Sector Demand The U.S. commercial nuclear industry comprises workers at electric power companies, power plant design firms, and nuclear power industry suppliers.
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Since there are 65 nuclear power plants in the United States, there are approximately 130 nuclear and radiochemists. Based on committee knowledge, out of the 130 approximately there are 4 M.S.
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The projected demands at the B.S.-degree level for nuclear and radiochemists at national laboratories (see Table 2-4) are small compared to projected needs within commercial nuclear power plants.
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.3 Based on the response from Maryland and there being 31 states with nuclear power plants, the committee roughly estimates that there are 10 B.S.-, 20 M.S.-, and 20 Ph.D.-level nuclear and radiochem ists employed. In addition, a conservative extrapolation, estimating only 50 percent of the Maryland projection, it expected that state regulatory agencies will hire 15 B.S., 15 M.S., and 15 Ph.D.
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FINDINGS There is a critical need for nuclear and radiochemistry expertise in nuclear energy and power generation, especially at the B.S. level, based on a scenario of continued operation of nuclear power plants at current capacity: • At the B.S.
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2011. Latest News Related to PRIS and the Status of Nuclear Power Plants.
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2011a. World Nuclear Power Reactors & Uranium Requirements, October 14, 2011.
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