[TexasTransplant]

"1000-megawatt nuclear fusion plant would produce about 4 pounds of waste a day, compared to 31,000 tons from a coal-fired plant of a similar capacity"

31,000 tons per day?

cBS alert

[HangnJudge]

http://www.tva.com/environment/air/bullrun.htm

.78 pounds released per megawatt-hr at Bull Run Steam plant
hmmm. calculator out
1000 megawatt = 780 pounds per 1000 megawatt-hr = 9.4 tons/day
Of course - this is emissions, not retained ash

Yup - sounds like an idiot to me

[punster]

What the article fails to say:

Both the deuterium + deuterium reaction and the tritium + deuterium reaction are potent sources of neutrons.

Why is neutron production a concern? Neutron activation of materials in the reactor is one reason. However, the most important reason, those neutrons can be used for plutonium production. Would we want to sell a fusion reactor to Saddam Hussein, if he were still in power. Other questionable sales would include, North Korea, Syria, Iran, etc.