San Onofre nuclear power plant prohibited from restarting

[Thegonagle]

7. At least the NRC is doing its job here.

I worry about all the other really old nuclear power plants that are operating though.

They are just machines, and machines can fail, sometimes with spectacular results. The TMI "partial" meltdown was caused by equipment failure, and most every "accidental release" has been caused by an equipment failure of one sort or another.

We have 100+ really old nuclear power plants that we're using the hell out of right now, and no newer "safer" ones. Some of them will shut down permanently over the next couple decades, but it needs to be on our terms, not the machine's.

The NRC has its work cut out keeping us out of danger, and the power companies are going to kick and scream the whole way. I hope they sharpen their fangs somewhat, because they're going to need them.