The fact is, CO₂ emissions went down. That is a good thing. The switch to Natural Gas was done quickly, more quickly than a transition to solar, wind or nuclear could have been made.
Similarly, while there are dangers associated with fossil fuel use, there are also dangers associated with nuclear power. Thats why the Energy Department has an Office of Environmental Management.
http://energy.gov/em/mission
[font face=Serif][font size=5]Mission[/font]
[font size=3]The mission of the Office of Environmental Management (EM) is to complete the safe cleanup of the environmental legacy brought about from five decades of nuclear weapons development and government-sponsored nuclear energy research.
The EM program has made significant progress in shifting away from risk management to embracing a mission completion philosophy based on reducing risk and reducing environmental liability. As an established operating cleanup completion and risk reduction program, EM is demonstrating the importance of remaining steadfast to operating principles while staying focused on the mission. For example:
- EM is constructing and operating facilities to treat radioactive liquid tank waste into a safe, stable form to enable ultimate disposition.
- EM is securing and storing nuclear material in a stable, safe configuration in secure locations to protect national security.
- EM is transporting and disposing of transuranic and low-level wastes in a safe and cost effective manner to reduce risk.
- EM is decontaminating and decommissioning facilities that provide no further value to reduce long-term liabilities and maximize resources for cleanup.
- EM is remediating soil and ground water contaminated with the radioactive and hazardous constituents.
- EM is fulfilling its commitments to reduce risk and complete cleanup across all sites for the generations to come.
- EM is planning for a DOE long-term management and storage facility for U.S. elemental mercury.
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