Connecticut Yankee can teach some lessons about lower-cost electricity

The Connecticut Yankee nuclear power plant has been singled out for its contribution to safe, low-cost, reliable power from nuclear energy. The 12-year old nuclear plant is set as an example to demonstrate to energy planners that nuclear power can contribute significantly to the energy picture by providing power from domestically controlled fuel. The 72 operating nuclear plants save the nation 470 million barrels of oil each year. Nuclear power can be used only for the production of electricity, though. If utilities currently using oil or gas switched to nuclear or coal, the nation could save another 521 million barrels of oil each year. Currently there are seven domestic nuclear plants that are completed but not licensed by the government. These seven reactors could also reduce oil imports by some 100,000 to 200,000 barrels per day