Question of the Day | 08/26/2008 12:00 am

What do you think of nuclear power as a viable energy source?

Liz Smith | 08/26/2008 12:00 am

Adopt T. Boone Pickens's Wind Machine, Pronto

Well, I think we are out of our minds that we haven’t already followed the example of France where they have perfected nuclear energy without an accident and are now all but energy-free of foreign oil. France is one of the most ecologically clean countries in Europe because of this. What are we waiting for?

Will we spend the last dime of our waning economic capital on the last drop of Arab and Russian oil?

And I think we should adopt T. Boone Pickens’s wind machine project as well. The sooner the better.

Click here to read my latest column in the Post.

9 Comments

Joan Ganz Cooney | 08/26/2008 12:00 am

Why Nuclear Power Is Vital to Our Future

I think we’d better get on it soon or we’re going to become hopelessly dependent on foreign oil and destroying the environment.

1 Comment

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The times sure have changed. It has taken this long for us to get to what scientists said over 40 years ago. Unfortunately, storage continues to be the issue. Someone posted a long time ago that we store France’s nuclear waste for them. I do believe we need to get on it, but we also have to solve the clean up and storage issue.

By Frannie Em on 08/26/2008 12:16 am

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Hi Frannie - “The times sure have changed”. You said it! Nuclear power is going to have to be part of the solution to the ever-growing energy crisis. America will need everything - oil, wind, solar and nuclear. It is also my understanding that America buries the nuclear reactor waste from France somewhere in the Rocky Mountains and deep beneath the earth’s surface. I believe the place of disposal was recommended by Dr. Teller.

By Bonnie Oliver on 08/26/2008 2:27 am

Hi Frannie and Bonnie, When you drive through Scotland, there are nuclear power plants all along the highway. The data support your opinion of this issue in regard to cleanliness and safety. Storage, however, continues to be an area that need be addressed, as no container lasts as long as the half-life of the waste. Safety measures as to monitoring buried waste so that it does not ‘seep’ into ground water would be an issue I’d study before living near a storage facility, as some do in Nevada.

By K O on 08/26/2008 9:57 am

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Absolutely- this topic tends to be glossed over, and is a major issue for safe use. I’m a little skeptical on the safety issues of ‘long-term storage’ Yucca Mountain or wherever. Reprocessing for reuse also has its drawbacks. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_waste for further info. Also, on wind power- I love the concept- but it’s a hazard to birds, and also apparently to bats. We need some kind of international plan for energy and energy development/ research that does not unfairly benefit the West at the expense of the rest of the world.

By Sheila Danehy-Oakes on 08/26/2008 7:18 pm

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There isn’t a solution for cleanup and storage unless you can change the periodic table of elements. Nuclear power produces stuff that’s toxic for a quarter of a *million* years. Nobody wants it stored in their back yard, so where does it go? I’m concerned that if storage becomes a sticking point, somebody will start dumping it in the oceans, where the currents will pick it up. Cleanup and storage aren’t a niggling little problem, they’re the core of the issue. A nuclear plant only functions for a few decades, and then the spot on which it stood is uninhabitable for a quarter of a million years. To any woman considering supporting nuclear power, I ask her, Which of your children’s or grandchildren’s health are you willing to sacrifice?

By Alyce Barry on 08/26/2008 11:06 am

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I am absolutely against it. We do not know how to dispose of the waste or where to put it. Also, the nuclear plants are too dangerous in their own right and risky in these times of terrorism. We would be smarter to focus elsewhere on energy sources. Check this out: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/nuclear-waste-cont…

By DeBúrca obj on 08/26/2008 12:19 am

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I heard someone on Charlie Rose a few weeks ago [sorry, I’ve forgotten his name] who is an expert in energy. He says that there is a “4th generation” nuclear reactor that burns the material – almost all of it – and that we should look into that. I am afraid of the waste material scattered around everywhere that is dangerous for generations and generations. But if we can make it safe then go for it. But that’s a big IF!

By JeJe De on 08/26/2008 8:42 am

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One problem I have is Halliburton. American corporations build stuff, like Three Mile Island, and then workers are underpaid and ill-trained, so we have accidents. I think, given our current culture and education levels, it’s extremely dangerous for us to proceed with nuclear power. There are other alternatives, and if we would spend our resources in research supporting companies who have valid ideas, rather than giving our resources to corrupt, dynosauric entities like Enron, we would be out of the woods shortly. We haven’t even begun to tape those resources.

By Mugsy Peabody on 08/26/2008 12:21 am

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Mugsy, we could take away the tax incentives we’ve given to Big Oil and put ALL that money directly toward incentives that will tap our renewable resources. There is a start.

By DeBúrca obj on 08/26/2008 12:26 am

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Quelle concept!

By Mugsy Peabody on 08/26/2008 12:37 am

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Mugsy,if you don’t mind “Quel concept”! But same exotism!

By sibelle daubigne on 08/26/2008 12:56 am

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Maladroit ! Mon erreur !

By Mugsy Peabody on 08/26/2008 3:48 pm

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Excellent! lol

By sibelle daubigne on 08/26/2008 5:38 pm

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I’m with you………….nature gave us our answer………We just dont listen. Anything that can actually lead to the destruction of mankind itself scares the hell out of me. We need to start being more concerned with the World we live in than the amount of dollars we continue putting into the hands of people who want us to stay dependent on OIL>>>>>>>>>> There is absolutly no excuse for not having vehicles that don’t use OIL………or OIL products. My gosh I can remember when the big CAR SHOWs of years past talked about the near future when we would have cars that didn’t need Oil products. We were all excited, then the big Oil men realized their fat cow would stop. They couldn’t have that could they? Of course not. That was over 50 years ago. Every time I go to the store I also see all the products that are packaged in plastic that could sink a battle ship. Remember about 15 years ago when they started making smaller cars that would get better mileage to help the cause……even parking lots were re conformed to accomadate the smaller cars………………now look what we have Huge huge vehicles………suck gasoline like water…….don’t fit in the little parking spaces. Unfortunatly I think we as a Society are not concerned enough to Save this World we live in. When I hear peole down play Global Warming I want to shake them and scream, WAKE UP It only makes sense to keep this World Clean. Nuclear NO!!!!!!!! Wind and Sun YES!!!!!!!!! other non poluting materials YES!

By Dona Howlett on 08/26/2008 7:24 pm