Overview of United States civilian nuclear power

In late 1940s and early 1950s, the initial deployment of converter reactors, then later, breeders providing an essentially inexhaustible energy source were carried out. Reprocessing would be the gateway to the breeder economy and a key element for closing the entire fuel cycle, together with waste solidification and the ultimate disposal of wastes away from the biosphere. From the beginning, the US government, electric utilities and industry have cooperated to develop and deploy nuclear power. It was allowed to privately own nuclear fuel by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. This is in accord with the philosophy that as much activity as practical should be conducted within the private sector. Since the atoms for peace polycy was launched in 1953, the worldwide peaceful application of atoms was fostered by making the US technology available to other nations. In 1983, five nuclear plants totaling 5.3 GWe were licensed for operation, and between now and 1985, 21 new plants totaling 23 GWe are expected to come on line. Nuclear power supplies about 13 % of US electric power requirement. US experience amounts to 578 reactor years. These facts do not reflect a dead industry or a failed option. (Kako, I.)