Sullivan Schulte: Delaware should consider small modular reactors carefully

Recently, Gov. Matt Meyer established and appointed the first members to the Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force. A primary reason for this was a fast-tracked federal executive order, created in May, that expanded support for advanced nuclear reactor technologies (or small modular reactors) throughout the country. Since that date, companies in Idaho, Oregon, Maryland and Wyoming have initiated plans for supporting SMRs. A primary selling point is that they require less land for expansion and can be built faster than regular nuclear facilities can be.

To state the obvious, Delaware — just 96 miles long and 9 miles wide at its narrowest point, plus surrounded by an ocean, several bays and countless estuaries — has no room for error should developers choose us. Does Fukushima ring any bells?

This, obviously, makes the governor’s task force both timely and essential.

Several questions come to mind for Delaware and its people before the march to small modular reactors begins:

• Due to the environmental and commercial risks involved, how much state funding would be needed?
• Do SMRs really reduce cost overruns and delays, as projected by some advocates?
• Are the electricity costs for these reactors higher than conventional nuclear power and will they remain so?
• Does the infrastructure needed to build, produce and transport them really exist in Delaware? Our state’s history in estimating infrastructure needs is marginal at best.
• Where will the sites be to store and manage the new radioactive waste, once disposal of same is invented?

Continuing to evaluate Delaware’s land use and expanding development adds to the new task force’s tough agenda.

Linda Sullivan Schulte

Selbyville

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.