Markey's "Nuclear Power Plant Safety Act of 2011" would require nuclear loan guarantees to consider Fukushima catastrophe risks

U.S. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA)On March 29, 2011 -- just 18 days after the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe began -- U.S. Representative Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the "Nuclear Power Plant Safety Act of 2011." Its Section 3 on Loan Guarantees would amend Section 1702(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16512(b)) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: "In the case of a guarantee for advanced nuclear energy facilities, the Secretary [of Energy] shall ensure that the cost of the obligation is calculated using a consideration of the Tohoku earthquake of 2011 to estimate the risk characteristics of the project."