• Former Excelon Corp. Chairman John Rowe told the American Nuclear Society's annual meeting that the current trend in natural gas prices works against the economics of nuclear in the U.S. and western Europe and probably will for at least a decade.
• The nuclear industry has to acknowledge that the 2011 Fukishima disaster now frames discussions of nuclear energy safety and environmental quality, Rowe said.
• U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) told the meeting that austerity in federal spending, including nuclear research, will be a fact of life in coming years.

From the article: "... “The combination of low power prices driven by cheap natural gas, perhaps for a very long time, and the new uncertainties created by Fukushima are very large challenges for all of you in this industry,” he said. “And if you don't stare those challenges in the face, squarely, with all your talent, with all your integrity, you will make very bad mistakes. ...”