Big Risks, Better Alternatives: An Examination of Two Modern-Day Nuclear Energy Projects
Union of Concerned Scientists
Project completed October 2011
"Big Risks, Better Alternatives" evaluates two proposed nuclear energy projects in the U.S.—Levy 1 and 2 in Florida and Vogtle 3 and 4 in Georgia—and compares them to potential alternatives that are capable of meeting projected consumer demand in their respective states. The study finds that there are major risks associated with the construction of both the Levy and Vogtle projects, and that, based on publicly available data, there are alternative options readily available to Progress Energy and Georgia Power that could meet consumers’ energy needs and be implemented at a lower cost, with far less risk to ratepayers.