[rhino369]

I wouldn't go so far as to say never. But that's generally the reason why nobody in building them in the United States.

But countries with high nuclear usage, like France, show that doesn't have to be the case.

If the US proclaimed a new Manhattan Project to go nearly full nuclear for new energy production, it could probably standardize designs, implement fall back safety features, and reduce regulatory costs.

A lot of the cost for nuclear in the United States is that you need an army of 800 dollar an hour attorneys to get approval/fight lawsuits trying to stop you.

[dagw]

But countries with high nuclear usage, like France, show that doesn't have to be the case.

Except France isn't really building new power plants either, and the one significant project they do have is way over budget and years behind schedule. They're keeping the plants they have running for as long as its reasonable to do so, but as it looks now they're not going to be replaced by new nuclear plants as they get decommissioned.