Nuclear opponents always look at 1970s us plant construction for costing data and neglect that "the nuclear" industry DIDN'T die in the rest of the world. World nuclear power plant construction tends to come in around $2000/kw for single-plant construction (no multiple unit discounts for design and parts), and is extremely well documented.

Beware of anyone with an axe to grind.

Real estimates from investor owned utilities are coming in much higher than $2,000 per kw. See http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/11/Business/Price_triples_for_Pro.shtml.

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf63.html

Tianwan-1 & 2 2 gwe nameplate pricetag US$3.2 billion onliine 2007
Lingao "They are reported to have cost $1800 per kilowatt"

So, long story short, it may just be that america is useless for new projects.

A bullet in the back of the head for those that criticize does wonders for cost control.

One cannot "cherry pick" one data point about the Cinese economy without considering the entirety of the society.

Alan

Chinese nuclear plants may look cheap, yet chinese coal plants are much cheaper still, and easier & faster to build with a more mundane workforce. Chinese coal plants aren't exactly the cleanest, however. And I wouldn't trust these cost figures from China too much anyway. The subsidy regime is opaque and sometimes costs aren't counted in the same consistent manner between projects (or in different countries).