Power cuts

8 August 2012 By Christopher Swann

A regulator is refusing to approve new reactors until there’s a plan for storing nuclear waste. With proposals to shutter a tenth of coal capacity, loud protests over gas fracking and little support for green tech, America seems to favor a none-of-the-above approach to energy.

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On Aug. 7 the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission suspended issuing final decisions on new licenses and on license renewals for nuclear power plants until it finalizes a court-ordered review of how to deal with the thorny issue of spent nuclear fuel.

The NRC - headed by Allison Macfarlane, a nuclear waste expert - will not stop hearings or other work on licensing activity and no license decisions are imminent, an NRC spokesman said.

Over time, the holdup could affect eight plant license renewals, nine applications to build new reactors, one operating license and one early site permit.

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