This country's retreat from nuclear power has been sheer idiocy -- talk about turning our backs on science and letting myopic environmentalists and paper-shuffling bureaucrats combine to hold back our growth and hurt the environment at the same time. Believe it or not, things are looking up, and there's a chance common sense might ultimately prevail.
More than a quarter century after the accident at Three Mile Island and two decades after Chernobyl, America's utilities stand at the early edge of what promises to be the first large-scale wave of nuclear plant construction since the 1980's.
And the energy companies are finding — especially in the small, struggling Southeastern towns like Gaffney where most of the plants are planned — that memories of those tragedies have faded and that local governments and residents, eager for jobs and tax revenues to replace vanished industries, are embracing them with enthusiasm.
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The nuclear debate is very near and dear to my heart. I was a Reactor Operator in the USN for six years and then I worked in a civilian nuclear power plant for another couple of years.
I got out of nuclear power because I did not think we would EVER build a new nuclear power plant. I still do not believe that we will ever COMPLETE a new nuclear power plant in this country.
There are two problems with nuclear power:
1. Excessive and massive regulation. I worked at a nuclear power plant that employed 65-85 people before Three Mile Island. I just talked to one of my friends who works there today. They now employ 650 people and they make the same amount of power today they made before Three Mile Island. The increase in employees is 100% due to government regulations...
2. The Federal Government promised to store all radioactive waste from nuclear power plants in this country. They promised to have a facility in place by 1998. They collected all the taxes needed to build the facility. The facility is Yucca Mountain. The facility is STILL not operating and, in fact, The Department of Energy is now not sure that it will EVER open.
Several companies are suing the Federal Government for Breach of Contract for a lot of money. I think they will win these lawsuits and be paid damages...
I have NO IDEA why President Bush is offering to throw BILLIONS of tax dollars at building new nuclear power plants. That is NOT what the industry needs.
Actually I DO know why President Bush is throwing money at it; he is a LIBERAL on spending issues and he beleives that spending more money is the answer to everything.
All we have to do is to streamline the regulations and build the storage facilty for nuclear waste.
Mark my words, we will spend billions of dollars on this and accomplish NOTHING...
Mike Sylvester