5. Economic factors
Overview
5.1 An Examination of Economic Regions and the Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Act
Richard Kuhn, University of Guelph; Brenda Murphy, Wilfred Laurier University, ON CAN
The new Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Act mandates that the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) recommends an economic region and a management approach at the end of the current three year study period. Economic regions are geographic groupings of complete census divisions for the analysis of broad economic activity. This paper reviews the idea of economic regions and outlines the implications of the use of this concept for the NWMO. Specifically, the relationship between the economic region approach and siting methods is assessed as is the potential ramification of the approach for different management options including deep geologic disposal, centralized storage and storage at nuclear reactor sites.
Resources:
Author Biographies
Dr. Richard Kuhn
Dr. Richard Kuhn is Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of Geography, University of Guelph. His research focuses on the social, political and siting implications and strategies for nuclear fuel waste management in Canada. Several grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada have been used to support this research. Dr. Kuhn has also conducted research in the Yukon, primarily on resource management initiatives associated with First Nations’ land claims. Additionally, he has recently completed a five year CIDA supported project in Zhejiang Province, China on rural development and environmental management.
Dr. Brenda Murphy
Dr. Brenda Murphy is an Assistant Professor of Contemporary Studies and Geography at the Brantford Campus of Wilfrid Laurier University. Her work focuses on assessing natural and technological hazards in modern society including nuclear fuel waste, water contamination, tornadoes and power blackouts. She is the recipient of grants from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada and is a research associate with the Institute of Catastrophic Loss Reduction. Dr. Murphy is also undertaking research to understand the implications of using community-based approaches for the management of resources and externalities such as toxic waste.
5.2 Status of Financing Systems for High-level Radioactive Waste Management (HLRWM)
F Energy, LLC, Washington DC USA
This report examines financial systems related to the management of high-level radioactive waste (HLW), focusing on spent nuclear fuel and HLW from commercial civilian power generation. Financial systems are an integral component to a country’s strategy to determine responsibilities, accountability and timing for waste management.
Profiles of selected countries (United States, France, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea) look at different schemes for cost estimates, allocation of responsibilities (government, waste producers and owners, independent fund managers, etc.), securing availability of funds (reserve funds, fee collection mechanisms), fund management, delegation of authority over funds, mechanisms for allocation and spending, and financial liability and title for waste.
The selection of countries endeavors to represent the range of current approaches taken to the larger issues of waste management options (i.e., storage, disposal, etc.), stages of policy formation and program implementation, use of open or closed fuel cycle (i.e., reprocessing), and political and public endorsement of options, and how these issues affect related financial systems.
Resources:
Author Biographies
GF Energy, LLC
Roger W. Gale
Partner, GF Energy
Roger Gale has managed and participated in numerous senior executive planning and strategic business design processes in North America, Europe and Asia. He has been involved in nuclear power projects since the 1970s and is well-known globally. Among his relevant experiences for this project are a number of recent assignments for global nuclear companies examining future market opportunities. In addition, he has expertise in corporate governance for large public enterprises and is a well-known communicator. He has done considerable work in Canada.
Roger began consulting in 1988 after working for the United States Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. He was responsible for policy, management organization and integration for the Energy Department’s nuclear waste office for almost four years. Since entering the consulting profession he has worked on more than 100 nuclear projects. Prior to working for the U.S. government he lived in Japan where he worked closely with many nuclear companies. Since entering consulting in 1988, he has developed skills in successfully managing top level corporate business development processes working with boards, shareholders and senior executives. He serves on the board of directors of Constellation Energy Group, the first U.S, utility to successfully re-license a nuclear plant and also serves on the board of the United States Energy Association.
Roger has a Ph.D in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.
5.3 Considerations for the Economic Assessment of Approaches to the Long-Term Management of High-Level Nuclear Waste
Charles River Associates, ON CAN
This background paper provides a summary description of some analytical tools that may be useful in conducting an economic assessment of approaches to the long-term management of high-level nuclear waste and outlines some framework considerations for such economic analyses. The paper also discusses some uniquely challenging issues and questions that the NWMO faces as it moves forward in considering the economic and financial implications of various waste management options.
Resources:
- 5-3 Considerations for the Economic Assessment of Approaches to the Long-Term Management of High-Level Nuclear Waste
- 5-3 Executive Summary
- Charles River Associates Canada Ltd.
Author Biographies
Charles River Associates Canada Ltd.
Charles River Associates was founded in 1965 with the goal of bringing rigorous and leading-edge academic and practical economics to government, business, and legal clients. In thousands of engagements, CRA has distinguished itself by its corporate philosophy of providing responsive, top-quality consulting; an interdisciplinary team approach; unsurpassed economic, financial and other analytic skills; and pragmatic business insights.
CRA’s Energy and Environment Practice includes specialists in virtually every aspect of the energy and environmental sector; highly skilled practitioners in such areas as modelling, valuation, statistical and econometric analysis, market design, and transaction implementation; and internationally recognized experts in complementary disciplines such as finance, competition analysis, and trade. Most importantly, we possess a wealth of experience in providing clear and concise advice to decision-makers at the highest levels, including corporate CEOs, regulatory commissioners, and energy ministers.
5.4 Economic and Financial Aspects of the Long-Term Management of High-Level Nuclear Waste: Issues and Approaches
Charles River Associates Canada Limited
This background paper identifies a range of economic and financial issues that have been raised or addressed as other countries and organizations have approached the long-term management of used nuclear fuel. The paper also considers the Canadian context, by reviewing some of the legislative and regulatory institutions that will form the foundation for Canada's management of used nuclear fuel.
Resources:
- 5-4 Economic and Financial Aspects of the Long-Term Management of High-Level Nuclear Waste: Issues and Approaches
- 5-4 Executive Summary
- Charles River Associates Canada Ltd.
Author Biographies
Charles River Associates Canada Ltd.
Charles River Associates was founded in 1965 with the goal of bringing rigorous and leading-edge academic and practical economics to government, business, and legal clients. In thousands of engagements, CRA has distinguished itself by its corporate philosophy of providing responsive, top-quality consulting; an interdisciplinary team approach; unsurpassed economic, financial and other analytic skills; and pragmatic business insights.
CRA’s Energy and Environment Practice includes specialists in virtually every aspect of the energy and environmental sector; highly skilled practitioners in such areas as modelling, valuation, statistical and econometric analysis, market design, and transaction implementation; and internationally recognized experts in complementary disciplines such as finance, competition analysis, and trade. Most importantly, we possess a wealth of experience in providing clear and concise advice to decision-makers at the highest levels, including corporate CEOs, regulatory commissioners, and energy ministers.
