This illustration above shows that there are 448 nuclear reactors of different types currently in operation in the world. We can see their distribution in the 30 countries that possess them, and the exceptional position of France, the second largest producer of nuclear energy after the USA.
The reactors are sited mainly in western countries, the countries of the former USSR, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, which have all reached an advanced stage of development. On the other hand nuclear energy is proportionately very small in developing countries with large populations, such as China, India, Indonesia, Latin America, Pakistan etc.
http://bastiat.net/en/cercle/meetings/Future_of_nuclear_energy.htm
This is the way Secretary Chu sees the future of nuclear energy:
"We are taking action to restart the nuclear industry as part of a broad approach to cut carbon pollution and create new clean energy jobs,” said Secretary Chu. “These projects will help us develop the nuclear technologies of the future and move our domestic nuclear industry forward."
Energy Secretary Steven Chu Announces $38 Million for 42 University-Led Nuclear Research and Development Projects (click title to entry - thank you)
Fuel Cycle Research and Development
(13 projects, $11,823,154)
Generation IV Reactor Research and Development
(20 projects, $19,855,912)
Light Water Reactor Sustainability
(2 projects, $764,140)
Mission-Relevant Investigator-Initiated Research
(7 projects, $5,556,816)
A list of selected projects can be found at: http://nuclear.gov/pdfFiles/NEUP_FY10_RDAwards.pdf .
Additional information on the Nuclear Energy University Program is available at www.ne-up.org.
And that was MILLIONS, not billions for much needed research. One might ask, why didn't this happen with the Cheney National Energy Policy. Hm?
