NuStart Membership changes

[Roll Tide]

NuStart membership: One in, one out
DTE Energy's Detroit Edison subsidiary plans to join the NuStart Energy Development, while Constellation Energy will leave the consortium later this year.

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/corporate/NuStart_membership_One_in_one_out-291007.shtml

Both moves look positive for new nukes (Constellation is out because they will be building EPR, and DTE in because they are now looking seriously at construction)!

[Fermi2]

Unless they've changed philosophy I have some serious doubt DTE will ever build another nuke, they're too bottomline of a company and nukes are a near to medium term financial hit.

Given Michigan and Northwest Ohio have been losing population I have to wonder where is the electrical demand? They may be decommissioning some of their dirt burners for all I know.

I just don't see the shareholders going for it and DTE is a slave to the shareholders.

Mike

[Rennhack]

DTE in because they are now looking seriously at construction!

Detroit Edison plans to join the consortium, citing the opportunity for additional collaboration with industry peers in developing standard regulatory processes and designs for new reactors. The company is preparing a COL application for a new reactor, but has not yet decided whether or not to construct it. Detroit Edison has tentative plans to submit the COL application to the NRC in late 2008. The company operates the Fermi nuclear power plant in Michigan.

Looks more tenative, than serious.  More of a 'just in case' is the way I read it.

But I agree with your bottom line, it is continued progress in the right direction for nuclear power.

Heck, even the Dems are for Nuclear Power now! -- If only we cold get them to approve Yucca...