Hmmm ... cut back funding for "safe" alternative energies like solar and encourage spending more money on "dangerous" alternative energies like nuclear. Ridding ourselves of dependence on foreign oil is a *top* priority ... huge ... especially as China enters the competition for demand. But is this the "best" way to go about doing it? Three Mile Island? Chernobyl? I'd take a "solar disaster" over a "nuclear disaster" any day. We just need the next great evolutionary jump in solar technology.
Chernobyl was caused by an intentional melt down, 3 mile island was only a partial meltdown, and modern Nuclear plants, you know ones built between the last one we built more than 30 years ago and now, are scads safer. It is a safe highly efficient source of energy. You haven't even named a nuclear disaster most people born after Reagan was elected would recall. That should tell you about the incidence of catastophy.
What solar power? What are you talking about? How many MWh are produced by solar generators? Are you one of those misinformed dopes that thinks solar power is viable? Maybe you should build a power plant that runs on harmonious feeelings, or from moonbeams. Dar.
And what exactly do you suggest that we do in the meantime, while we are waiting for "the next great evolutionary jump in solar technology" that may never happen?
Solor power isn't cost effective. Nuclear is the lowest cost solution to our energy problems.
Sure, so would everyone but solar technology just had a major jump in the technology and it still can't really do the job. Supportors of present day solar energy will need to live like boondocking RV'ers who use solar all day to charge batteries for 45 minutes of evening light before the batteries drain. This is not the way most Americans live, and RV'ers usually get a generator too.
On the other hand, nuclear is atmospherically clean, reactors are safe from melt down, security is on alert, and the reactor makes lots of power and makes new fuel as it runs. Can't ask for more in this day and age. But as far as a disaster, you simply have to stop it from happening. Hence the War on Terror. Get on board.
Well until that happens, and it will be quite some time...I'll take MODERN nuclear power, one once of doped silicon in an efficient solar panel costs more than an ounce of GOLD...the rest are junk...
Three Mile Island? Chernobyl?
TWO examples of OLD nuclear technology, Chernobyl is a JOKE, the entire place was a dump before the meltdown, typical of many Soviet installations. Location is key, there is plenty of desert in the USA where you could setup modern nuclear power stations...
Solar is great for powering a calculator.