RE: The nuclear situation in Japan is getting worse, experts worry about other plants in seismic zones
@xrae00, it's not that simple. What nuclear provides is the most
stable base load, generating electricity 92% of the time. No other
type comes as close. Most utilities rely on nuclear first, then
other coal/gas facilities next. When demand decreases to a point
where baseload plant output isn't needed, it is much more simple
and economic to throttle back on a coal fueled generator, for
example. Removing nuclear would make grid management a little
more difficult in some regions, and would immediately spike the
demand for coal and gas. That most likely will drive up prices. In
the end, immediate or even short term elimination of nuclear can
be costly to the rate payer.
