Nuclear Energy

MULTIMEDIA

Nuclear Energy after Fukushima — Mar 8, 2012

At this March 2012 program, physical scientist Tom LaTourrette discusses the pros and cons of nuclear energy, and sheds some light on lessons learned in the year since Japan's nuclear disaster in Fukushima.

• Listen to the Audio

REPORT

Attention to Societal Priorities Can Help Guide Nuclear Waste Management Policy — Nov 15, 2010

To break the impasse over how to deal with spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear power plants policymakers should focus on how various waste management strategies address societal priorities related to nuclear energy.

• Full Document
• News Release

NEWS RELEASE

Attention to Societal Priorities Can Help Guide Nuclear Waste Management Policy — Nov 15, 2010

To break the impasse over how to deal with spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear power plants, policymakers should focus on how various waste management strategies address societal priorities related to nuclear energy.

• News Release

REPORT

Policy Implications of Alternative Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Strategies — Nov 8, 2010

Testimony presented before the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future on November 15, 2010.

• Testimony
• Related Report
• Energy and Environment Research Area

COMMENTARY

Dialogue Can Stop Iran at the Nuclear Threshold — Apr 4, 2006

Published commentary by RAND staff: Dialogue Can Stop Iran at the Nuclear Threshold, in the Financial Times.

• Commentary

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Nuclear Power in Eastern Europe: Learning or Forgetting Curves? — Dec 31, 2003

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REPORT

Managing Waste With and Without Plutonium Separation — Dec 31, 1998

This study examines whether reprocessing and plutonium recycle will make radioactive waste management more effective and economical.

• Full Document
• Energy and Environment Research Area

REPORT

Civilian Nuclear Programs in India and Pakistan — Dec 31, 1995

This paper begins with a discussion of the current and future plans of civilian nuclear development in India and Pakistan. Some civilian nuclear facilities can be used to produce highly-enriched uranium (HEU) or plutonium, the basic ingredients for m...

• Full Document

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Why Does Nuclear Power Performance Differ Across Europe? — Dec 31, 1994

This paper compares the performance of nuclear power plants in five European countries by estimating a microeconomic model of managerial decision making.

• Abstract
• Read More
• Energy and Environment Research Area

REPORT

Adequate Control of Weapon-Usable Fissile Materials — Dec 31, 1993

The prepared statement first describes the difficulties in the current ways of controlling fissile materials that can be used to make nuclear bombs.

• Testimony

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Stochastic process analysis for nuclear power plant operations — Dec 31, 1993

• Full Document

JOURNAL ARTICLE

V-230 Performance: How Good Is It Really? — Dec 31, 1993

V-230s deteriorate over time, while Western reactors generally improve.

• Abstract
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• National Security Research Area

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Proportional Hazard Regression Models for Point Processes: An Analysis of Nuclear Power Plant Operations in Europe — Dec 31, 1993

The safety and reliability of nuclear power have been hotly debated in the last 30 years.

• Abstract
• Read More

REPORT

Plutonium for Japan's Nuclear Reactors: Paying Both the Proliferation and Dollar Price to Assure Long Term Fuel Supply — Jan 1, 1993

This study concludes that one means of assuring energy and minimizing the potential for weapons proliferation is to develop an international nuclear fuel bank that could supply countries with energy credits.

• Full Document

REPORT

History, Structure, and Institutional Overview of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 — Dec 31, 1985

The author summarizes the key features of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA); describes the siting process for a waste repository and recent implementation history, including accomplishment of major milestones to date; ...

• Full Document

REPORT

The costs of closing nuclear power plants — Dec 31, 1984

This paper presents methods for estimating the full costs of closing nuclear power plants. It (1) reviews recent studies of the economic costs of closing the Indian Point and Zion nuclear generating facilities, (2) offers methods for synthesizing the...

• Full Document

REPORT

Origins, Goals, and Tactics of the U.S. Anti-Nuclear Protest Movement — Dec 31, 1984

This Note describes the origins, goals and tactics of the anti-nuclear-weapons and anti-nuclear-energy protest movements in the United States; characterizes American anti-nuclear protest activities of the past several years, and compares them with an...

• Full Document

REPORT

Total Cost Estimates for Closing Indian Point — Dec 31, 1981

Based on a review of existing studies, the authors advance a method for estimating the total costs associated with the premature closure of a nuclear power plant facility.

• Full Document

REPORT

An Evaluation of Alternative Safety Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants — Dec 31, 1981

Assesses approximately 90 safety criteria and goals for the nuclear power industry that have been proposed over the past two years in the United States and elsewhere.

• Full Document
• Related Report

REPORT

Science policy by referendum: voter choice on the California nuclear energy initiative — Dec 31, 1980

Examines the results of a study of Californians' attitudes toward nuclear power and the nuclear power initiative. The paper attempts to draw conclusions about the public's potential role in science policymaking. Most survey respondents knew very li...

• Full Document