The AP1000 design that just got its COL approved is a PWR. General Electric's newest Plant is the ESBWR (a BWR). Areva is designing the EPR (a PWR). Molten salt reactors are a pipe dream in commercial power generation. The reason companies are sticking with BWR/PWR designs is due to licensing requirements. The NRC already knows how to license BWR/PWR. It will be quite a while before they have a licensing process from Gen IV/V reactors. Given that; why would a company design a commercial reactor without knowing the licensing requirements? Sounds like a money pit.

Until America starts to plug in their electric cars overnight... then you're boned.

Did I forget to mention that I do loss of coolant analysis on nuke plants?

Westinghouse submitted the design of the AP1000 to the NRC labeling Shaw Group as the Company in charge of the construction. There is no lowest bidder. This partnership has been recognized by the NRC and I believe only a NRC qualified contractor may undertake a project such as this. The bottom line: We don't have to worry about shoddy construction on this behemoth.

You're paranoid.

Construction for the AP1000 is already underway in China at the Sanman site. Those will be the over-budget / over schedule "test mules."

The sun is only up 1/2 the time, my friend. Nuclear is baseload power generation while Solar is supplementary. Apples and oranges.

Since the last reactors were built, the United States has upgraded its licensing procedure. With the Combined Operating License (COL) which just got approved, the time has passed for those who wish to object the construction/operation of the plant. A few months ago the Nuclear Regulatory Commission held an open forum to the public to review the AP1000 reactor for the site in question; that was the time to object. So it looks like Southern is a go for construction of this plant.

But now you have thousands of people coming home and saying, "Boy... that was a crappy day. Maybe I should turn on the TV..." Then they see an ad for some anti-depressant and think, "HOLY COW! I'm depressed!!! I better get put on these meds!" To accept this they take a long look in the mirror and notice they have dry red itchy eyes and think "I just saw a commercial for Clear Eyes!!!" I should get some so I don't look like crap and in the process it will make me less depressed!" All the while not knowing that they should be getting a lubricating drop rather than something that just constrict the blood vessels in your eye (i.e. they take the red out, but do very little else). By advertising drugs, you're tricking consumers into thinking they are educated, but most are actually clueless ass-onions.