The future of this industry

[Coaster]

I've recently accepted a job as an NLO and I start in a couple of weeks. I'm generally excited but one thing that's causing me some concern is the future of the nuclear industry in the US. There's not many new plants being built while there's quite a few that are shutting down. The plant I'll be working at has a license through 2033 and there's another plant with the same utility in the same state that they apparently want open until 2040.

Can anyone offer some opinion or advice on what they believe about this? Is it still a worthwhile career to get in to right now? Worst case scenario how transferable are the skills I'll learn be to other careers?

Thanks.

[Marlin]

I've recently accepted a job as an NLO and I start in a couple of weeks. I'm generally excited but one thing that's causing me some concern is the future of the nuclear industry in the US. There's not many new plants being built while there's quite a few that are shutting down. The plant I'll be working at has a license through 2033 and there's another plant with the same utility in the same state that they apparently want open until 2040.

Can anyone offer some opinion or advice on what they believe about this? Is it still a worthwhile career to get in to right now? Worst case scenario how transferable are the skills I'll learn be to other careers?

Thanks.

  The industry is in transition. Attitudes on nuclear is also in transition on an upward swing fortunately. Funding is required for those plants that are not financially viable on their own. Legislation to fund many of these plants has been passed on the national and state level but some are still on the chopping block for early retirement. This funding will extend the life of existing plants, the future may depend on SMRs and that is not assured but has plenty of backers. Some of the new SMRs may not be run by utilities but by companies requiring high dependable power such as for bit coin mining, steel production, hydrogen production, and other processes by private organizations. I will let someone else comment on the ability to transfer to other careers I am a little out of touch on that (retired).

[Bonds 25]

Hopefully putting in 11 years will give you enough seniority to make the cut to stick around for the many years of decommissioning if they indeed forgo a license extension. 

[hamsamich]

According to what I read of the new Inflation Reduction Act it could pretty much induce almost all Nuclear Plants to continue operations until 2032.  Not a fan of most of that bill but I do love the tax credits it gives to operational commercial reactors making electricity.

[RDTroja]

According to what I read of the new Inflation Reduction Act it could pretty much induce almost all Nuclear Plants to continue operations until 2032.  Not a fan of most of that bill but I do love the tax credits it gives to operational commercial reactors making electricity.

Please don't call it that. There is nothing that bill will do to reduce inflation. The name was invented to fool people.

[hamsamich]

Yeah i think that was a given for anyone with an IQ over 80....but I don't know what else to call it.