NEI Nuclear Notes

Here’s a bit of the discussion from this morning’s Meet the Press . Host David Gregory mostly focused on Libya, appropriately, with Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), then turned to Japan. (Transcript cleaned up a little to cover pauses and such.) MR. GREGORY:  I want to turn to Japan, another crisis that the president is facing, and, of course, what the Japanese are dealing with. Here are some of the latest facts to emerge out of the disaster in Japan. The death toll now upwards of 8,100. Still so many missing, and the number of missing well over 12,000. Some signs of hope, though.  Incredible images coming out of Japan early today from Ishinomaki as there were incredible rescues of a teenager as well as an 80-year-old grandmother who was stuck inside of her house.  Thankfully, though, those two people were rescued. But, Senator Levin, as the nuclear emergency continues in Japan there are real questions about the future of nu...

As mentioned last night in our Twitter feed , the Washington Post has obtained a 21-page draft summary of The American Power Act ; the energy and climate bill sponsored by Sen. John Kerry [D-MA] and Sen. Joe Lieberman [I-CT]. The nearly 1,000 page bill contains 12 titles and will be unveiled at a 1:30 pm ET press conference today. This being Nuclear Notes, our attention is focused on the nuclear provisions and title, which are transcribed below: Details on Key Provisions Increasing Nuclear Power Generation We have included a broad package of financial incentives to increase nuclear power generation including regulatory risk insurance for 12 projects, accelerated depreciation for nuclear plants, a new investment tax credit to promote the construction of new generating facilities, $5.4 billion in loan guarantees and a manufacturing tax credit to spur the domestic production of nuclear parts. We improve the efficiency of the licensing process. We invest in the research and de...