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Author Topic:   Is nuclear power safe??
fearandloathing
Member (Idle past 4144 days)
Posts: 990
From: Burlington, NC, USA
Joined: 02-24-2011


Message 1 of 57 (609251)
03-17-2011 6:30 PM


In light of whats happening in Japan and the heated discussions about nuclear power in the Japan topic I feel nuclear power may deserve its own discussion.
I feel nuclear power is a option that cant be discounted. It already provides 20% of our domestic power in USA. With oil supplies shrinking and environmental concerns over greenhouse gas's, I feel it is a good source of energy. Newer deigns of reactors are more efficient and built with safety in mind.
http://www.ga.com./energy/em2/
I feel alot of peoples fears are based on an irrational fear of radiation. This fear may be a product of cold war?? Although this would be another topic maybe.
I would like to hear what anti-nuke people have to say, and why they feel the way they do. My only goal is for both sides to maybe gain a little insight and knowledge.

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by jar, posted 03-17-2011 7:29 PM fearandloathing has not replied
 Message 5 by Jon, posted 03-17-2011 7:46 PM fearandloathing has replied
 Message 21 by Rahvin, posted 03-18-2011 12:08 PM fearandloathing has not replied

  
fearandloathing
Member (Idle past 4144 days)
Posts: 990
From: Burlington, NC, USA
Joined: 02-24-2011


Message 6 of 57 (609262)
03-17-2011 7:53 PM
Reply to: Message 5 by Jon
03-17-2011 7:46 PM


fear of radiation is not irrational when placed in proper prospective.
The run on potassium iodine pills being bought by people nowhere near the event in japan only supports my statement about irrational fear....Fear or radiation on the us west coast is irrational....need I say more??
By the way that crap stored in the ground is in itself a source of energy.....see my link in the first post....support what you say with ???
I guess all the nations currently using nuclear power are irrational??
Edited by fearandloathing, : No reason given.
Edited by fearandloathing, : No reason given.

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fearandloathing
Member (Idle past 4144 days)
Posts: 990
From: Burlington, NC, USA
Joined: 02-24-2011


Message 9 of 57 (609268)
03-17-2011 8:39 PM
Reply to: Message 8 by Jon
03-17-2011 8:31 PM


Jon writes:
Radioactive isotopes? The ground is where they are before we mine them.
Of course, and in the same concentration as well... of course.
But much of the issue here is that you've heard about radioactive waste, but you've never heard about things like hydrofracking waste or fly ash waste, because nobody's ever made a movie where fly ash turns four turtles into ninjas.
I'm well aware of the risks and side-effects of coal power and such. But like I said, those effects can be better regulated: fly ash disappears almost immediately after the plant is shut down. Nuclear waste doesn't; as you yourself said, it's around for thousands of years.
Jon
As I asked you before ...Look at link in first post...what we now consider waste is actually a source of energy for future.

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fearandloathing
Member (Idle past 4144 days)
Posts: 990
From: Burlington, NC, USA
Joined: 02-24-2011


Message 15 of 57 (609313)
03-18-2011 10:40 AM
Reply to: Message 12 by Coyote
03-17-2011 10:22 PM


Re: Next step
Coyote writes:
Then we decide which should be closed down, which need to be upgraded and which are as safe as we can make them.
And which designs are best for the new ones that we need to build post haste?
Here is a link with lots of good info, also visit the NRC website for details on how the licensing and certification process works.
Build New Reactors
NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Edited by fearandloathing, : No reason given.

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fearandloathing
Member (Idle past 4144 days)
Posts: 990
From: Burlington, NC, USA
Joined: 02-24-2011


Message 16 of 57 (609315)
03-18-2011 10:50 AM
Reply to: Message 14 by dronestar
03-18-2011 10:36 AM


Re: mini nuclear power plants
dronester writes:
I proffered the excellent idea of mini nuclear power plants (and micro hydro-power plants) in the Japan thread. Sadly, no one remarked about that particular post:
Small Town Nukes 
National Geographic Magazine
Small reactors can't address all the problems standing in the way of more nuclear investment, but they can address the biggest barriersthe economic ones,
Besides costing less to build, some small reactors could be inherently SAFER, . . .
No I checked it out, good info, there are many small plant designs..see my link in msg 15. also in 1st post. Although I feel way you do, lots of people don't take time or if it goes against their argument then they will ignore it.
I guess one of the real questions should be...Do we trust the NRC? What could be done to make it better?
Edited by fearandloathing, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
 Message 17 by jar, posted 03-18-2011 11:06 AM fearandloathing has replied

  
fearandloathing
Member (Idle past 4144 days)
Posts: 990
From: Burlington, NC, USA
Joined: 02-24-2011


Message 18 of 57 (609321)
03-18-2011 11:22 AM
Reply to: Message 17 by jar
03-18-2011 11:06 AM


Re: mini nuclear power plants
jar writes:
fearandloathing writes:
I guess one of the real questions should be...Do we trust the NRC? What could be done to make it better?
Right now, I would say that the answer is a resounding "NO!"
In the US we have been trying valiantly to make reasonable regulation impossible. We have split control among multiple organizations, under funded and under staffed all of them, limited their authority. We decided that we did not want government overseeing and interfering with making a profit.
What do you suggest we do as far as regulation?
My knowledge in area of regulation is sadly lacking.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 17 by jar, posted 03-18-2011 11:06 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 19 by jar, posted 03-18-2011 11:43 AM fearandloathing has replied

  
fearandloathing
Member (Idle past 4144 days)
Posts: 990
From: Burlington, NC, USA
Joined: 02-24-2011


Message 20 of 57 (609330)
03-18-2011 12:05 PM
Reply to: Message 19 by jar
03-18-2011 11:43 AM


Re: mini nuclear power plants
jar writes:
We have a very long and tough job in the US to return to what I would consider reasonable regulation.
I think an almost essential first step would be to ban all corporate political contributions and severely limit corporate lobbying.
But in the case of the Energy Sector, I favor returning to regulated limited utility monopolies where a single entity is granted exclusive access to a given geographic area. Consumer rates would be set by the regulating entity and there would be requirements for minimal level of service to EVERY home and business in the area. Discounts based on increased usage would be eliminated. The profit for the Utility would also be regulated as a percentage of return on investment.
At the Federal Level, for example the NRC, we need to fully fund a large enough staff that is well paid and with staffing levels so that every site gets at least a thorough semi-annual inspection. The NRC also needs sufficient authority to actually enforce the regulations with the threat of jail, asset confiscation and termination and reassignment of the monopoly hanging over corporate officers.
I agree, thanks for your view.
Here is a little problem I have been having for past 4 months.
I have 2 telephone poles on my property, both were rotting at ground, one was so bad it was leaning 20 deg or so from vertical, the only thing keeping it from falling was it had lines on it from 3 directions keeping it up like guy wires.
I called Duke power and they came out and tied a rope to a tree in my back yard and used it to hold the pole more or less vertical, I was told they would be back in a week or so and replace it. This was around thanksgiving or so, Christmas got here and nothing had been done. I called Duke back and was told the pole was AT&T's and they had been informed. I called AT&T and was told it was news to them and they would come out and see. Lady for AT&T came out and inspected both poles and told me she would have both replaced in next week or so,as soon as work order was approved and their sub-contractor was scheduled..
3 more weeks and nothing, so I called friend at fire dpt,being a public danger, city inspections came out and said he make few calls. I called NC utilities commission myself and 4 days later 2 new poles....took Duke 2 more weeks to move wires, Cable and AT&T were out in a day or so of them. Now I got 4 poles, old ones are tied with rope to new ones to keep them from falling, I guess it is time to call utilities commission again!!
Somebody needs to be able to make them spend money on maintaining their infrastructure, proactive instead of reactive, I was told them poles were same ones from when this neighborhood was built in early 50's
Edited by fearandloathing, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 19 by jar, posted 03-18-2011 11:43 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 23 by jar, posted 03-18-2011 12:17 PM fearandloathing has not replied

  
fearandloathing
Member (Idle past 4144 days)
Posts: 990
From: Burlington, NC, USA
Joined: 02-24-2011


Message 28 of 57 (609351)
03-18-2011 1:55 PM
Reply to: Message 26 by Rahvin
03-18-2011 1:03 PM


Re: mini nuclear power plants
Rahvin writes:
"Dam" interesting about Banqiao. Nope, I never heard about it even though I researched visiting Henan Province the previous year (visited Guizhou Province instead). Will google about, wiki doesn't seem to have any photos linked.
Might be hard to find - the Chinese gov't covered it up, only declassified the incident in the 90s.
I found buch on it from wiki and few other places...amazing

This message is a reply to:
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