Economic Impact of Closing Zion Nuclear Facility.
Abstract
The Zion nuclear plant's close proximity to the heavily populated Chicago area has raised questions about the safety of its continued operations. Zion's loss would reduce power supplies below levels considered adequate to maintain reliable service. Should the demand for electricity be less than now projected, the impact would be less severe; however, should plants now under construction be delayed, the impact would be more severe. Purchased power from other utilities is the most immediate way to replace Zion's power, but the existing transmission network may be a limiting factor. New non-nuclear plants can be constructed to replace Zion, but they would not be available before the 1990s. Measures to reduce electric demand also have long-term potential, although their effectiveness will depend on costs, customer acceptance, economic conditions, and regulatory and other governmental policies. GAO discusses the pros and cons of closing the Zion facility. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 21, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA108298
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office