nuclear-news

Nuclear power has big carbon footprint, increases global warming

Nuclear Power Boosts Bills and Piles On Radioactive Waste, Kenric Ward, Sunshine State News,  August 10, 2011“…..MEASURING CARBON FOOTPRINTS AND FUTURE BILLS

While Gov. Rick Scott and PSC Chairman Art Graham have expressed continued support for nuclear power in Florida, the industry faces high financial and technical hurdles.
“The NRC has yet to even certify the [proposed] AP1000 nuclear reactor design as being safe for construction and operation,” Saporito  (Thomas Saporito, a West Palm Beach-based nuclear-power expert who has worked both in the industry and at the NRC) .said.

What’s more, environmentalists say nuclear plants are not as “green” as advertised.

“The carbon footprint made during the years and years of construction significantly contributes to global warming. Once the nuclear plants are operating, billions of BTUs are discharged into the environment. This is heat that was not in the environment prior to the operation of the nuclear power plants. So, these nuclear plants definitely increase global-warming concerns,” Saporito said.
According to the News Service of Florida, most of FPL’s rate request, about $172 million, is related to upgrading its four existing reactors at Turkey Point and St. Lucie. In a filing with state regulators, FPL President and CEO Armando Olivera said the projects would increase the company’s nuclear capacity about 15 percent.–  http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/nuclear-power-boosts-bills-and-piles-radioactive-waste

August 11, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, climate change