The expected resurgence of the nuclear power industry in the United States as electrical power producers make plans to replace and replenish power production facilities, is expected to cause a surge in demand for highly skilled welders over the next decade.

The high cost of fossil fuels, increasing concerns over climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, and apprehensions over energy security are combining to improve the position of nuclear power compared with other options.

While no new nuclear reactors have been ordered in the United States since 1979, the performance of existing nuclear power plants and financial incentives offered in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 are leading to the development of new nuclear power reactors.

Several dozen reactors are in various stages of proposal development in the United States, and the construction of those plants will require highly skilled welders to produce everything from the steel reinforcements for the massive concrete buildings that would house reactors to reactor vessels to the miles of stainless steel pipe that are needed.

Cambridge Energy Research Associates, Inc., an international consulting company for energy companies, governments, financial institutions, and technology providers, predicted in April that energy companies will begin submitting applications for licenses to build and operate new nuclear power plants in the U.S., and that those companies will begin to order the largest components for the plants that they are planning by the end of this year.

Cambridge Energy also predicted that licenses would be granted and construction would start by 2010.

While a major nuclear power plant accident anywhere in the world could derail those predictions, based on the nuclear power industry's performance history the consulting company said it fully expects those plans to continue.