Nuclear Energy Heats Up US Presidential Race (About time!)

Reuters/guardian.co.uk ^ | Tuesday May 6 2008 | Jeff Mason

[kellynla]

Oh, okay, thanks!

I’m learning. LOL

[chimera]

Remember RR got a heck of a lot more accomplished than anyone since and he did it with a ‘Rat congress!

Reagan was a lot smarter than most people give him credit for when it came to getting things done. He worked to find common ground. He forged coalitions. He used personal persuasion and charm to win allies. He offered incentives for people to join him. When he knew he couldn't get everything he wanted, he compromised to get at least 70-80% of what he wanted. It is possible to get things done in DC, if you play your cards right. Reagan had to work with dyed-in-the-wool liberals like O'Neill, but he got things done and didn't abandon core principles.

I know, I know, Reagan is gone and won't be coming back, so we have to make the best of what we have. But it sure would be nice to have someone on our side who would exercise some leadership and take the initiative, instead of being simply passive and reactive.

[chimera]

It shouldn't be a partisan issue at all. Here you've got a proven source of energy. It is high intensity. It is dispatchable (i.e., there when you need it). We know how to deploy it safely and economically. We have the resources. If those concerned about GHG and global warming are really serious, they can have a source of energy that addresses those concerns. Any candidate who claims to be serious about the environment and energy security should have no problem endorsing the use of nuclear energy to the maximum extent practical. Those who don't are either poorly informed on the issue or are being dishonest.

[DelphiUser]

Nevada could have had a 1000 power plants, feeding the whole continent, and but no, we need to keep our billion square miles of nothing pristine for the cockroaches.

The Nukes wouldn't bother the Cockroaches...

[DelphiUser]

So, the danger of nuclear waste can be eliminated? Or is there a percentage of the waste that we just have to live with?

You need to look at Breeder Reactors If my understanding is correct, if just one in ten reactors was a breeder reactor (The government could control those to make sure Weapons were not being made...), we would have no storage problems, would be able to make fuel instead of mining it, and that coupled with Pebble Bed reactors would give us safe, scalable renewable Nuclear power and make electric vehicles finally worth it. Plus we'd be off the world oil market.

Big oil would oppose the heck out of this, unless we made it worth their while with nuke plant licenses in exchange for real increases in production state side in the short term (giving them an upgrade path to being big electric), and poof production now, cheap safe electric later, and if someone is really a greenie, they have to support it! LOL! (I have been thinking about this for a while...)

[kellynla]

thanks
I’ll check it out!

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Clinton’s energy platform was “better than the others” because of its focus on nonnuclear sources, though she appeared to change her stances in different states,”
No shiite Sherlock!

[Ditto]

Big oil would oppose the heck out of this, unless we made it worth their while with nuke plant licenses in exchange for real increases in production state side in the short term (giving them an upgrade path to being big electric), and poof production now,

I don't know why you think 'big oil' (who ever that is) would care. In the US, less than 3% of our electricity is generated with oil and that is primarily in remote areas that have no access to natural gas or coal. If anything, oil companies who also buy lots of electricity would be very supportive of having low cost nuclear electricity.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Big oil could buy up all the coal and then in a combined cycle plant, the coal could be gasified and turned into synthetic petroleum products... big oil still turns a profit, the reactor still makes electricity... now the only one that would complain is Big Ag... no one would need their gas crops...

[DelphiUser]

I don't know why you think 'big oil' (who ever that is) would care.

Natural Gas generally speaking comes from wells, you know oil wells, that's why they are connected to oil companies, oil companies own the wells...