nuclear-news

A veiled attempt to resurrect a failed proposal for an NPP in Pueblo, the opinion is ill-founded and ill-considered in its assertions and omissions.

Absent are the discussions of major problems in uranium mining, milling and enrichment; fuel fabrication operations; nuclear reactor operations; radioactive waste operations that result in radioactive and chemical pollution and contamination of air, water and earth; and adverse public health and environmental impacts.

Consider this also: Nuclear power is the most water-guzzling of energy sources, but no connection is drawn between limited water resources in Pueblo County and the water requirements of an NPP built here.

Nuclear power plants consume tens of millions to a few billion gallons of water each day, depending on the type and number of reactors. They have an insatiable thirst for cooling water.

Intense competition for water among agricultural, environmental, industrial and municipal consumers already exists. Introducing nuclear power consumption would only exacerbate the situation.

Anyone honestly advocating protection of the Arkansas River water resource would be well advised to look deeply into the facts before backing a plant in Pueblo.