RE: Why nuclear power still matters
"Will nuclear ever be relevant?"
"We need newer technology if nuclear is to be relevent."
You guys are too funny. Nuclear power is very relevant. There are 442 nuclear plants in operation world-wide, producing 374,958 Megawatts of electricity. France gets 75% of their electricy from nucleare energy. The Ukaraine still gets 50% of their electricity from nuclear plants, post Chernobyl. Tell the French that nuclear power is not relevant.
China has 13 plants and is building 27 more. They have to power their country, now that they are becoming a modern civilization. The United States has 104 nukes producing 100,747 Megawatts. Not relevant? Dudes, wake up and smell the coffee.
"Have we already forgotten Chernobyl?"
"Too many people today were born too late to remember Chernobyl or Three Mile Island."
1> We have not forgotten Chernobyl. Neither have the Ukrainians, who get 50% of their electricity from nukes. Chernobyl was a product of a corrupt Socialist State, and was designed poorly, and safety procedures were not followed.
Three Mile Island? There was no disaster. Coolant water leaked. No one was killed, and several epidemiological studies in the years since the accident have supported the conclusion that the tiny amount of radiation released from the accident had no perceptible effect on cancer incidence in residents near the plant.
William Tucker is absolutely correct when he states that "a coal plant must be fed by a 100-car freight train arriving every 30 hours."
Nulcear plants power France, Lithuania, Belgium, Ukraine, Chian, and the United States (among others) and the US Navy. It's the most effective way to produce clean power. It is highly relevant, and most effective.
The imperative is proper design, and strict adherance to proper safety procedures.
