First small modular nuclear reactor design certified for use in U.S.

[Arthur_Frain]

82. Perhaps I misunderstood your first reply to me.

It appeared that you were dismissing out of hand both fission and “super batteries” as non viable, and you stated that nuclear was a “mature technology that we understand”

I don’t mean to be argumentative, but only half of us here in the states are ignoring fossil fuel wastes, and we both know which side is doing that. Most of my liberal friends do all the conservation and recycling they can, none of them “roll coal”.

I agree almost completely with your first paragraph, but I think there’s a fair amount of misunderstanding on both of our parts here. I don’t feel that the idea of using nuclear in particular instances shouldn’t be considered outright, but the proliferation whereby “everyone has one in their backyard” (which is of course, hyperbole, a 50 megawatt new line nuclear reactor powers a community or a town, not a single family home) is not a good idea either, for many of the same reasons we’re having problems now.

And real world data gets blown out of the water just as easily in that “eureka” moment you stated where it’s discovered it can’t be done, as in the moment where there is a breakthrough moment that pushes the technology forward.

I guess my surprise at your resistance to my points comes from your initial statement about your stance on nuclear energy being completely anti nuke in the 70’s. We could go on about diminishing returns vs current storage schemes, but I don’t think we’re going to change one another’s perception of what problems matter more.

Part of my problem is you haven’t squared the waste issue. More nuclear plants = more waste, you will run out of space to store it securely on site, nobody wants to be the state that stores it (for obvious reasons if not always accurate, would you buy a home with a nuclear waste dump next to it for your grandchildren?), it’s an obvious target for domestic/international terrorism, and honestly it appears we have to deal with half of our nation shooting up our electric substations, I don’t think they’ll hesitate to consider a nuclear waste storage facility a priority target.

Plus there’s the entire human nature aspect of this. I grew up watching industry after industry (including the nuclear industry early on, and once again now) telling me all of this is safe, and ”we promise to be responsible and do the right thing” which almost never happens. It always, everywhere, comes down to trying to cut corners to squeak out a few more ergs of profitability, and that’s when the bad shit starts to happen.

You’re going to tell me that this time, we will do it right and not be the lazy, greedy, inattentive people that we’ve been up to now? Shit, most of the folks in my town can’t be bothered to come to a full stop at a stop sign or follow the speed limit. I’m sure similar attention will be given to radioactive waste regulations. I don’t want to see the radioactive version of Love Canal.

Oddly enough, my state is one I think we will end up seeing get a couple of the new reactors. Alaska has many communities that have been waiting for this day. So one way or another, we will get to see how this plays out.