Jul 14

Written by:
7/14/2008 6:23 AM 

I thought that the article Five Myths About Nuclear Energy by Kristin Shrader-Frechette was very well presented and enlightening. For the past few years, I have been considering whether or not we should consider increased use of nuclear energy as one of our ways to reduce our dependence on oil. However it is becoming clear that not only is nuclear power still dangerous (e.g. nuclear plants are vulnerable to terrorist attacks and we still don't know how to safely dispose of the radioactive waste), it is also not cost-effective (with wind turbines producing energy at less than 1/2 the cost of nuclear - with none of the safety issues of nuclear).

It speaks volumes when billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens is investing big time in wind power and has developed the Pickens Plan. So environmentalists are telling us to do the right thing. Market forces are telling us to do the right thing. The only ones strongly in support of the nuclear industry appear to be the nuclear industry itself. And they have been getting big subsidies from the U.S. government (i.e. us, the taxpayers). It's time we stop subsidizing nuclear (and big oil) and support the dawning of an age of clean, renewable energy along with increased attention to energy efficiency and conservation.