Posted on 06/20/2008 9:22:02 PM PDT by newbie2008
News rolled in yesterday that Republican presidential candidate John McCain has called for a huge increase in the number of nuclear power plants in the U.S.: 45 new plants by 2030, and another 55 after that. That's almost twice as many new plants as are operating in the U.S. today (104, according to the AP). What benefits does nuclear offer? According to McCain, "Every year, these [104] reactors alone spare the atmosphere from the equivalent of nearly all auto emissions in America." Of course, there's a lot of uncertainty about nuclear power, as we recently discussed, and McCain's call to reduce the time new nuclear plants would need to get permits cleared away doesn't seem exactly prudent. McCain also said the U.S. should spend $2b a year developing clean coal technologies.
The issue of producing electricity is key to the green car movement, especially as we move more and more to plugging our vehicles in. VW CEO Martin Winterkorn likes nuclear for plug-in cars, for example. A while back, when we delved into the nuclear debate in any length here on AutoblogGreen, I said I'm not at all convinced that nuclear power is the best way to power out EVs.
(Excerpt) Read more at autobloggreen.com ...
I do agree with McCain on building more nuclear power plants. I think he needs to drop the Global Warming BS, and push the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” mantra.
Quiet, we don’t want the McCain haters here to know this, they might get all riled up again.
Unfortunately, we're going to do the "historical" gig in November. We've got to get "the first black president" thing out of the way before we'll be able to concentrate on solving our energy problems. That stuff is going to have to wait for at least another four years.
Nukes, offshore drilling, and wind power off the coast of Cape Cod......get that done johnny and I might just forget your global warming idiocy......ok I won’t but do it anyway.
“A McCain presidency would mean electric cars powered by nuclear plants, clean coal”
Bull Feathers.
And plug-ins with 300 mile range.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
I like my gas powered vehicles.
Europe figured out the benefits of nuke power long ago. Even liberal France gets something like 80% of their electric from nukes. Even still, I saw the most aggressive electric conservation in France as well.
Enviros in the US have no clue. They are luddites who are causing more damage to the environment than they protect.
Useless drivel if you ask me. The federal government has no business setting energy policy anyway. What we need is a president who will dismantle the Dept of Energy and let the market take over, not one like McCain who will just make promises of big government solutions to big government problems.
or maybe we can just reopen the ones that we’ve closed in the last ten years. there’s one where i live.
The answer becomes obvious: Build the nuclear plants, and dril here, drill now!
I heard they had a practical range of 100 miles. I know folks who drive that far to the grocery store!
“I like my gas powered vehicles.”
Me too, screw McCain.
And spandex jackets. One for everyone.
“Useless drivel if you ask me. The federal government has no business setting energy policy anyway”
I’m not yet sure if I agree with you just yet. These nuclear power plants take an enormous overhead to build. Relying completely on investors to guide our energy policy in this country is a bit squirrely.
The way to go about this, I think, is to offer the carrot of tax incentives for companies to build what you’re looking for. Let them run the show. Let the government take care of security.
You really need to have a concentrated effort to coordinate matters.
Take this technology invented at Los Alamos Labs. I’m serious, read the article. With a coordinated effort, we could be free from foreign oil:
Instead of worrying about running out, we’ll make our own. And this process will be more streamlined as time goes on. Sure, give us the electric cars. But also produce the fuel needed for longer hauls.
This is a national security issue, and while I think it’s best that we ultimately hand over the reigns to private industry, it might be to our benefit to give them a bit of direction, as well.
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