The Cost Effectiveness of Remote Nuclear Reactor Siting

By using an idealized model, the reduction in potential radiation risks, as a function of increasing distance between nuclear power plant and load center, was compared to the corresponding increase in power transmission costs. Based on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission guideline of $1000/man-rem, remote siting was not found to be a cost-effective risk-reduction method. However, this guideline applies only to the biological risks of radiation exposure, explicitly excluding measures of the relevant social values. It is suggested that methodologies from many disciplines can be applied within the risk assessment framework to allow the inclusion of value measures in public decisions that regulate the integration of technological and social systems.