• 3 minutes e-car sales collapse
  • 6 minutes America Is Exceptional in Its Political Divide
  • 11 minutes Perovskites, a ‘dirt cheap’ alternative to silicon, just got a lot more efficient
  • 3 hours GREEN NEW DEAL = BLIZZARD OF LIES
  • 6 days If hydrogen is the answer, you're asking the wrong question
  • 10 hours How Far Have We Really Gotten With Alternative Energy
  • 10 days Biden's $2 trillion Plan for Insfrastructure and Jobs

Breaking News:

Oil Prices Gain 2% on Tightening Supply

Charles Kennedy

Charles Kennedy

Charles is a writer for Oilprice.com

More Info

Premium Content

Regulations Scupper Buffett’s Iowa Nuclear Plans

Regulations Scupper Buffett’s Iowa Nuclear Plans

Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy has announced it is shelving its plans to build new nuclear reactors in Iowa due to insurmountable regulatory hurdles.

MidAmerican Energy, a subsidiary of Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK), began its assessment of Iowa’s nuclear generation potential in 2010 and recently completed a nuclear feasibility study, which it submitted it to the state regulators on Monday.

Various sites were identified and two locations were targeted for additional testing, but after the results of oil and environmental assessments at the target areas were revealed, MidAmerican said there was too much uncertainty over carbon and other regulations to proceed at this point.  

Related article: Not Just Oil: The US is also Dependent on Foreign Uranium

"It is premature, given the uncertainty of carbon regulation and the extensive regulatory review for new nuclear reactor designs, to immediately pursue any additional site work on a future generation option, including a nuclear facility," the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

The feasibility study had also concluded that new small modular reactors (SMRs) would be a cost-effective alternative to other forms of nuclear generation as long a carbon emissions are constrained or taxed. It’s still very early days for SMRs, but it is likely that MidAmerican is eyeing this as a longer-term alternative goal.

By. Charles Kennedy of Oilprice.com


Download The Free Oilprice App Today

Back to homepage





Leave a comment
  • David B. Benson on June 09 2013 said:
    However, TVA is going ahead with site characterization work for 2 SMRs.
  • SA Kiteman on June 11 2013 said:
    Buffet,
    Four Words: Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors.

    The leanest, cleanest, greenest form of proven reliable power.

Leave a comment




EXXON Mobil -0.35
Open57.81 Trading Vol.6.96M Previous Vol.241.7B
BUY 57.15
Sell 57.00
Oilprice - The No. 1 Source for Oil & Energy News