On May 27, 2009, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander proposed to build 100 new nuclear power plants in 20 years "for a rebirth of industrial America while we figure out renewable electricity." In his talk, he stated "This would double America's nuclear plants, which today produce \(20 \%\) of all of our electricity and \(70 \%\) of our pollutionfree, carbon-free electricity."

Analyze the proposal of the senator from several perspectives:

a. Cost of 100 nuclear power plants

b. Need to replace existing nuclear power plants to generate net power output

c. Amount of water required for the condensers of the new power plants