Reply #26: Nuclear energy is already competitive with all fossil fuels

[Dogmudgeon]

There are enormous secondary costs involved with fossil fuels -- particularly medical and agricultural costs -- that nuclear energy does not inflict.

Even according to the inflated numbers generated by Russian scientist-turned-politician Aleksei Yablokov, Chernobyl will kill fewer people (200,000 to 950,000 total, depending on the paper) than coal combustion alone (one million per year -- minimum). Petroleum, natural gas, wood, and even poor stove design kill a whole lot more.

Nuclear is not so much more expensive than coal that it can't be considered. The social benefits would be enormous. I wonder -- how many people have died from the widespread use of coal and fossil fuels, where nuclear would have been built if not for the market "correction" and M.U.S.E. concerts of the 1970s? THAT might make an interesting epidemiological study, particularly now that the anti-nukes have become desperate enough to throw "everything including the kitchen sink".

--d!