Makes you wonder if he can make this happen either. Doesn’t it?
5.
rc | June 20th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
The President has very little to do with it in reality, other than appointing people to the DoE and NRC for regulatory approvals. Most of the roadblocks to building new plants are based on local ignorance, state regulations, and government wienies. ala Doyle’s “it won’t happen on my watch” comment about a new plant in WI.
The fact is that nuke plants emit less radiation than a coal plant. If you could gather up your “nuclear footprint” of waste over your lifetime, it would fit in a soda can. Your traditional coal/gas power footprint would fill a football stadium.
In addition, the construction of a new plant creates about 3000 temporary construction jobs and about 500 permanent jobs. Not minimum wage jobs either. Real live, family supporting jobs. Not to mention the reliable and efficient power source. But hey – who needs those, right?
But I digress…. In reality, the chance of building that many plants by 2030 is a long-shot. Since the industry has been left to pretty much languish for the past 30 years, it will be tough to ramp up the specialized supply chain to that magnatude that quickly. If we started now – 25 would look like a more plausible number….
5 Comments Add your own
1. Tim | June 18th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
That’s a big assumption on your part, elliot.
2. Fuzz Martin | June 18th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
“Melt down.” Brilliant!
3. phel | June 18th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
To quote Bloom County back in the day…
“It was like a big old glowing gopher, man!”
4. grumps | June 20th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Makes you wonder if he can make this happen either. Doesn’t it?
5. rc | June 20th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
The President has very little to do with it in reality, other than appointing people to the DoE and NRC for regulatory approvals. Most of the roadblocks to building new plants are based on local ignorance, state regulations, and government wienies. ala Doyle’s “it won’t happen on my watch” comment about a new plant in WI.
The fact is that nuke plants emit less radiation than a coal plant. If you could gather up your “nuclear footprint” of waste over your lifetime, it would fit in a soda can. Your traditional coal/gas power footprint would fill a football stadium.
In addition, the construction of a new plant creates about 3000 temporary construction jobs and about 500 permanent jobs. Not minimum wage jobs either. Real live, family supporting jobs. Not to mention the reliable and efficient power source. But hey – who needs those, right?
But I digress…. In reality, the chance of building that many plants by 2030 is a long-shot. Since the industry has been left to pretty much languish for the past 30 years, it will be tough to ramp up the specialized supply chain to that magnatude that quickly. If we started now – 25 would look like a more plausible number….
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.