Nuclear Power Industry Unhappy with Energy Pricing Model

According to this article in the New York Times, the nuclear industry is complaining that the energy industry is “rigged against them,” insofar as the price paid to the sources that generate electricity varies on an hour-to-hour basis, and nuclear plants can’t ramp up and down to meet those changes in pricing.

Robert G. Ethier, vice president of market development at ISO-New England, the independent system operator that manages the grid in the six New England states, doesn’t see it that way.  He responds that the markets are designed “to be open to all fuels and all technologies.” He continued, “We don’t take a position on what’s a good fuel and a bad fuel.”

Holy cow.  Couldn’t that be part of the reason the ice in the arctic is melting and people are dropping like flies from the inhalation of aromatics from coal plants?  Mr. Ethier, maybe it’s time we actually took a very definite position on what’s a good fuel and a bad fuel.  If you’re having trouble making that determination, let me know and I’ll gladly help you.