Abstract :
The Japanese earthquake and its devastating consequences for the Fukushima reactors will surely affect how governments and their citizens feel about nuclear power in the coming months. Nonetheless, as of January, 65 new nuclear power plants, capable of producing over 62 gigawatts, were under construction in 16 countries, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute, a trade group in Washington, D.C. In 2009, construction began on 11 plants, the most in one year since 1987.