at one nuclear site. A 2010 DOE outlook, conducted
prior to the Blueprint’s release, estimated that only be-
tween six and fifteen new reactors will be built by 2035
(EIA 2010a). While these figures are estimates, and rel-
ative percentages need not be has defined in the Op-
tion 1 or 2 scenarios developed herein, clearly action
must be taken very soon to address the magnitude of
this disparity. Quantifying the nuclear power genera-
tion goal will allow for progress to be tracked, such
that policy, resources, and execution can be adjusted
accordingly, helping ensure the vision is achieved.
Second, set the stage economically to achieve the
goal. Once a roadmap is in place, it must be resourced
in order to be executed. Author Thomas Friedman
has been quoted as using an oft-repeated Pentagon
saying: “vision without resources is a hallucination”
(Kotin 2008). Offering loan guarantees commensurate
with the levels projected by the roadmap is a start.
Addressing the causes which lead to high default
rates in the past would be critical to ensuring this pro-
gram succeeds. Tax incentives, to offset the large capi-
tal costs that discourage entry into the market, could
later be offset by the taxes generated on revenue from
the additional capacity and increased economic activ-
ity spurred by additional energy. Consistent with the
2011 State of the Union Address, a continued invest-
ment by the federal government in the human capital
is needed to support the roadmap. The authorities of
the 2005 Clean Energy Act address many of the rele-
vant concerns and should be sustained and resourced.
The federal government has other means to influ-
ence resourcing beyond simply spending money from
its treasury. Further streamlining the federal licens-
ing and oversight process could pay immediate divi-
dends in terms of time and cost savings. An example
of such could be the standardizing of reactor designs
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