nuclear-news

“Next generation” reactors the same old failed nuclear technology

Why nuclear power is off the table in the fight against climate change, LA Times,  Linda Pentz Gunter,  17 Nov 15 Robert Bryce glosses over the “many hurdles” of nuclear energy almost as an afterthought. He omits entirely the best argument against choosing nuclear energy to address climate change: time. (“Nuclear power must be a part of greener future,” Op-Ed, Nov. 12)

The “next generation reactors” are the same old — and failed — sodium-cooled and other “fast” reactor designs that have been under development for decades. The current reactor designs do not meet our needs, with most around the world mired in delays and costs overruns.

The U.S. Department of Energy has been funding a “next generation” favorite, the small modular reactor, since the 1990s. Today, there are still no such reactors in operation, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has yet to receive a license application.

Climate change can’t afford to wait for these last-century energy dinosaurs. On the other hand, unlike costly and dangerous nuclear power, renewables are meeting energy needs quickly and without the problem of a deadly waste legacy or risking the diversion of radioactive materials. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-le-1117-tuesday-cliamte-change-nuclear-20151117-story.html

November 18, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general