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Nuclear energy is not the answer – General News

Nuclear energy is not the answer
ohmyGov 30 Sept 08 No matter how you pronounce the word..Every election cycle, many republicans and moderate democrats use their elevated soapbox standing to push a nuclear power agenda. With our “addiction to oil” growing ever less tolerable, rhetoric espousing the need for nuclear power to wean ourselves off of oil is growing faster than China’s female gymnasts.The problem is, and always has been, that U.S. dependence on foreign oil has little-to-nothing to do with our use or non-use of nuclear energy.
Consider the fact that nuclear energy, unlike oil, cannot power an automobile, and save for submarines and other large marine vessels, is only useful for generating electricity…………………………

Given the uncertain techniques, high costs, risk of having nuclear secrets fall into the hands of extremists, and NIMBY (not in my back yard) issues for storing and securing nuclear waste, it is mind-numbing that anyone even suggests this strategy as a serious means for reducing foreign oil dependence. Yet every election cycle, the policy reemerges from the dusty shelves of history like a stalker in a cheesy 1970’s horror flick. 

Last week, John McCain was that stalker, offering up nuclear power as part of his plan for eliminating foreign oil dependence. …………………….

A smarter strategy than using nuclear energy to power electricity lays in increasing the use of renewable energy technologies like wind, solar, wave energy, and geothermal energy – by far the most underrated potential energy source. If that seven percent market share of the electric power grid can’t be completely replaced by these clean fuels, clean coal and natural gas could easily fill in the supply gaps.

There is no need for nuclear power; like the steam engine, it’s time has passed.

Nuclear energy is not the answer – General News

Tags: nuclear, antinuclear, uranium, radioactive

September 30, 2008 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics