Climate Scientists Are Mistaken In Supporting Nuclear Power For Climate Change Mitigation - Part Two of Two Parts
Part Two of Two Parts (Please read Part One first)
6. The public is especially skeptical of nuclear power because of the Fukushima disaster in Japan in March of 2011. Another major accident anywhere in the world will result in massive public backlash against plans to build more reactors anywhere in the world.
7. Nuclear nations are pushing the sale of nuclear reactors to third world countries where regulation is more lax than in developed countries and corruption is more severe and widespread. This invites more accidents.
8. The funds for decommissioning nuclear power plants are not adequate in the U.S. and other countries. If the money is not there when a nuclear power plant reaches the end of its life, then it will likely just be fenced and boarded up, future inviting problems such as environmental pollution.
9. Nuclear power plants are great targets for terrorists. There have already been concerns in some countries involved in conflicts that their nuclear power plants may come under attack.
10. Due to climate change, more severe weather is expected. Many nuclear power plants are located near ocean coasts where there is danger from hurricanes and tsunamis. This invites more accidents.
11. At least twenty nuclear reactors in the U.S. are down-stream from dams. If dams break, the reactors could be flooded. This could result in major accidents.
12. Nuclear reactors in the U.S. can take up to ten years to plan, license and construct. We must act immediately on climate change and cannot afford to wait on nuclear energy projects which often fall behind schedule and are often over budget.
13. Nuclear power plants produce plutonium as a matter of regular operation. Plutonium can be extracted from spent nuclear fuel and used to make nuclear weapons. The proliferation of nuclear weapons is a major concern in the world today.
14. Radioactive materials such as nuclear fuel can be used to construct "dirty bombs" by packing such materials around a core of conventional explosives. Such devices are attractive to terrorists and terrorist organizations are actively seeking such materials on the black market today.
15. Insurance programs for covering the damages of nuclear accidents are inadequate. In the U.S., there are caps to what companies could be expected to pay in the case of a major nuclear accident. If the cost of the cleanup after such an accident exceeds the cap, then the U.S. taxpayers are going to have to pay the difference which could be in range of billions of dollars. India is having problems obtaining nuclear contracts from companies in other countries because of its strict liability laws and the Indian government is working to weaken those laws.
This is a short list to which many other concerns could be added. While nuclear power might look good with respect to carbon emissions, this only holds true if all the problems listed above can be solved. These problems are obvious and well-documented. They will not all be solved any time soon. It is a disservice to those expecting expert advice backed by solid evidence to be told that nuclear power is a good solution for reducing carbon emission.
