On Nuclear power not eco-friendly enough to resurrect

Posted on July 20 at 2:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Wayne Madsen's account of why we should not bring back nuclear energy is way off base. High energy costs and CO2 emissions are precisely why we should have been building new nuclear power plant all along!

To his point about Chernobyl. It was a totally inadequate design where the reactor was not even contained in a concrete enclosure like all modern western designs. It was contained in a thin steel building! Most people think thousands of people were killed and injured by that event but in actuality, only about 50 have died because of radiation related to that incident.

I know of no one who has died because of radiation related to any other nuclear power plant in the world. On the other hand, many thousands have died because of air pollution emitted from coal plants. Hey Wayne, how many lakes have been contaminated due to acid rain from a nuclear power plant? None! Do you know how many fish have died or people gotten sick due to mercury poisoning from a nuclear power plant?? Not one!! Ever!! Because a nuke plant emits none!!

Regarding maintenance problems in nuclear plants, perhaps if we had been building more nuclear plants all along, they would have taken the load off the existing plants so they can be more easily maintained! We need to be investing in new nuclear plants now that are of more modern technology. Sure there have been some problems but these are correctable and will be addressed in more modern designs

Regarding nuclear waste, did you know that all the nuclear waste that has ever been generated in history in the US would only fill Camp Randall to the tenth row!! That's not that much. There is also technology that exists to re-cycle spent nuclear fuel and/or destroy it, if the government would only allow it. So that takes away that excuse.

To say that nuclear fuel is not renewable is non-sense. Ever hear of plutonium? It can be used a fuel and is created in the fission process. Worried about proliferation? So, we can take care of it better! That is a small problem compared to the energy crisis we face. Nuclear energy is not green??? Say What??? A technology that emits ZERO pollution is not green?? I didn't really read that did I??

And, to think that solar and wind generated power can fulfill our energy needs, you must be dreaming there. They just cannot provide the amount needed by American industrial usage. Not without practically covering the country with ugly wind generators and solar panels. They may be ok for light residential use as a supplement to coal, gas and nuclear, but will never replace them. We need it all and soon. Any problems that Wayne mentioned either have been overcome or can be if only the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the radical environmentalists get out of the way.

Bring on the cooling towers and more clean air!!