Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : The Case for Nuclear Energy -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (46)	2/15/2001 11:09:09 PM
From: Stephen O	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 312

Silicon Valley Executives Cite the Need for Nuclear Power Feb. 13, 2001—Stung by the electricity shortages that have plagued California this winter, two of the world’s top technology executives have extolled the value of nuclear energy in recent weeks. Last Thursday, at a National Press Club Newsmaker Luncheon in Washington, D.C., Scott McNealy, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Sun Microsystems, spoke of California’s energy woes and the impact they are having on his Palo Alto-based company and its employees. “This country needs to figure out an energy policy … and I’m going to do the politically incorrect thing and tell you the answer’s going to be nuclear power. I have not yet heard anybody utter the phrase ‘nuclear power’ in California yet. But in terms of environmental and cost and competitiveness and all the rest of it, I just don't see any other solution … Rolling blackouts are a bad thing.” Just one month earlier, Craig Barrett, president and chief executive officer of Santa Clara-based Intel Corp., voiced similar views on the urgent need for the reliable, low-cost, bulk electricity that nuclear power plants provide. As reported by Bloomberg News on Jan. 9, Barrett said his company “was unlikely to expand in Silicon Valley and would instead consider building in such far-flung locations as Ireland and Israel because California’s energy crisis had made power supplies unreliable.” Barrett criticized government officials for blocking new power plants, and said, “Nuclear power is the only answer but it’s politically incorrect.” McNealy said that, beyond his willingness to speak up, politicians need to exhibit the leadership to shape a comprehensive energy policy that will serve the national interest. “I’m happy to take the lead and take the arrows if that’s what it takes, but I think the politicians have got to step up and start driving this and come up with a better energy policy that includes nuclear power.”