"The importance of nuclear energy becomes apparent as we move into a world which puts a price on carbon because nuclear energy production has very low carbon dioxide emissions," according to Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM).

Chairman Bingaman made four major points in his November 16 address to the American Nuclear Society:

• Nuclear energy has an important role in energy markets that put a price on carbon, simply because it has very low associated carbon dioxide emissions.
• But nuclear energy is a costly up-front investment, even more so for the first units that will be built in the shadow of the large cost overruns by the plant being built in Finland.   
• We have given nuclear energy assistance through legislation to help buy down the risk of first-movers, consistent with the recommendations of the National Academies in their America’s Energy Future study.  As of this time, these authorities are just beginning to be used. 
• The issue of spent nuclear fuel is open.  It can be safely stored for decades above ground until we reach a final and conclusive path for its disposal, but that path has yet to be determined.

Link to full text of the speech.