Growing public and legislative opposition creates a bad public relations image for our company during a time of utility deregulation and growing competition. Weapons grade plutonium has never been used in commercial nuclear reactors posing unanticipated risks. European experience with reactor grade plutonium fuel has produced inadequate information of unknown relevance to the U.S. weapons grade plutonium fuel program.
Uranium fuel is plentiful and inexpensive, with predictable impacts on reactor operations.
Duke Energy participation in this plutonium fuel program would make the company dependent on the Department of Energy and the French government owned firm Cogema. The difficulties and red tape involved in doing business with these two government make the business dynamics of this venture risky. The plutonium fuel program depends on the Russian government doing a parallel program. Duke Energy should not involve itself in a program that depends on political events in Russia. Use of plutonium fuel sends the message that plutonium is acceptable for use in other countries, thus increasing the risk of nuclear weapons material proliferation.