The pebble-bed reactor uses uranium fuel in ceramic pellets about the size of billiard or tennis balls, instead of the stainless steel fuel rods used at San Onofre. The pebbles, which are replaced continuously as the reactor operates, heat helium gas instead of water. They came to us in January and made a presentation. It's been eliminated to make the design affordable. Clearly they are putting safety margins in the balance.
Performance improves The United States has never had such a widespread disaster.
Nuclear power has steadily increased its safety and efficiency over the past two decades, industry officials said. They've said capital investments have paid off, making nuclear power more cost-effective, and that nuclear plants do not release air pollution, which avoids air quality restrictions facing plants that burn oil and coal. Efficiency has improved, according to records kept by the nuclear industry and by its federal regulators. The number of automatic shutdowns at nuclear power plants has steadily increased over the years, and the runs between refueling stops have been increased through improved management and maintenance practices. Ron Simon, a senior director at the institute, leads a national task force of 12 industry leaders studying the possibility of building new nuclear power plants in the United States.