This book grew out of projects funded by the Kentucky Human ities Council in 1974 and. 1975 and by the Environmental Protec tion Agency in 1976 and 1977. As a result of the generosity of these two agencies, I was able to study the logical, methodological, and ethical assumptions inherent in the decision to utilize nuclear fission for generating electricity. Since both grants gave me the opportunity to survey public policy-making, I discovered that there were critical lacunae in allegedly comprehensive analyses of various energy technologies. Ever since this discovery, one of my goals has been to fill one of these gaps by writing a well-docu mented study of some neglected social and ethical questions regarding nuclear power. Although many assessments of atomic energy written by en vironmentalists are highly persuasive, they often also are overly emotive and question-begging. Sometimes they employ what seem to be correct ethical conclusions, but they do so largely in an in tuitive, rather than a closely-reasoned, manner. On the other hand, books and reports written by nuclear proponents, often Under government contract, almost always ignore the social and ethical aspects of energy decision-making; they focus instead only on a purely scientific assessment of fission generation of electricity. What the energy debate needs, I believe, are more studies which aim at ethical analysis and which avoid unsubstantiated assertions. I hope that these essays are steps in that direction.

Nuclear energy issues facing Congress include federal incentives for new commercial reactors, radioactive waste management policy, R&D priorities, power plant safety and regulation, nuclear weapons proliferation, and security against terrorist attacks. Contents of this report: (1) Most Recent Developments; (2) Nuclear Power Status and Outlook: Possible New Reactors; Federal Support; Nuclear Production Tax Credit; Standby Support; Loan Guarantees; Global Climate Change; (3) Nuclear Power R&D; (4) Nuclear Power Plant Safety and Regulation; (5) Nuclear Waste Management; (6) Nuclear Weapons Proliferation; (7) Federal Funding for Nuclear Energy Programs; (8) Legislation in the 111th Congress. Charts and tables.

A multi-country study assessing the potential role of nuclear power.

This book explores how different governments have leveraged their capacity to advance a revival of nuclear power. Presenting in-depth case studies of France, Finland, Britain and the United States, Baker and Stoker argue that governments may struggle to promote new investment in nuclear power.