Win Re.. ANWR isn't a long term solution, and it's not a short term solution either. It's something, but it's not that much.
Every little bit adds up. 3 yrs of imports is a lot. All we need is another 10 ANWRs and we can eliminate foreign oil; or at least we can reduce our dependency.
But there are no new US reactors even in the planning stage at this point, much less under construction.<<<<<<<<
This is due to the enormous scare tactics and burdensome regulations and duplicate and triplicate safety systems which made nuclear uneconomical. New reactors are inherently safe, and while more costly than coal, will be as cheap as natural gas and much cheaper than renewables. Electricity is the one energy source which can take over many of the energy uses from oil. And if we save our natural gas for heating and replacing oil in feedstock; with nuclear we could afford to replace oil and coal. It won't be cheap and it won't be easy, but, I feel it must be done, to bridge the gap until the next big energy source is developed.
And I don't think it likely that anybody is going to assume the risk of restarting the US nuclear industry in a deregulated environment. <<<<<<<
Don't bet on it. Enron has already applied for a license to develop and new style based upon Pebble bed Reactor technology. While coal and natural gas were cheap, nuclear didn't have a chance. But with natural gas doubling and tripling, nuclear is cheaper, and is far cleaner than coal. The companies who own the 104 nuclear reactors in the US today, by and large are making big bucks off of them; as Enron and others were able to buy the plants cheap, increase output, and increase operating times to nearly 90%/yr as opposed to 65% twenty yrs ago. With Yucca Mt.s getting the green light, waste disposal should be taken care of. If we can reduce our dependency, we can control our destiny. Now is the time to start. |
