An interesting read

February 02, 2006, 01:38:41 PM

www.kiddofspeed.com

Makes you think about nuclear power.

An interesting read

Reply #1 – February 02, 2006, 02:44:16 PM

Quote from: stuntmannick

www.kiddofspeed.com

Makes you think about nuclear power.

Wow, those pictures are incredible.

Hell on earth.

An interesting read

Reply #2 – February 02, 2006, 03:59:41 PM

That doesn't really change my opinion on nuclear power.. I still feel it should be used, but ONLY if it is well-maintained and improved.. and even then, only sparingly. (couple per state, perhaps.. not much more than we have now, whatever that number is) Also, they should be working on ways to utilize existing nuclear waste for further power generation, via breeder reactors or whatever.. squeeze more out of it instead of just piling it up. We should also be ultimately working harder on migrating to fusion and ditching fission reactors. I wouldn't call myself pro-nuclear power, exactly.. but it is a legitimate option at present IF controlled tightly.

I don't think we've built any new nuke plants since before Three Mile Island. That kinda worries me more than the thought of another nuclear plant being built. It's one thing to rely on 20-something year old cars like some here do.. at the very worst, if they fail from age, you might take out yourself and a few other vehicles on the road. If an old nuke plant fails, kiss an entire region goodbye. Perhaps anyone running a nuclear plant should be given enough land to build two reactors on.. but only use half of it.. run a reactor for say a max of 20 years, while building its replacement (near the end of that period) on the other parcel of land. Then when the new one goes online, tear down the old one and repeat the cycle. That way you don't have to keep finding new sites to deal with the "NIMBY" factor, and you'll always have a relatively modern plant on-line.

One thing to keep in mind when thinking about Chernobyl: The Russians have been notorious over the years for not building nuclear power generators to the highest of quality standards. Shielding has always been said to be sub-standard, etc. When Three Mile Island "failed" on us, it is said that the design of the emergency systems actually worked.. and it was human stupidity that let things get out of hand. But even with that, TMI never did end up like Chernobyl. If the design held up back then, I wouldn't feel too bad about a more current design built to more current safety regulations in this time of heightened awareness of such things. But as I said in the beginning: it would all have to be tightly limited.. I wouldn't exactly advocate a breeder reactor on every street corner.

Sorry if this is a bit rambling.. I'm battling the twin demons of coffee buzz and vicodin buzz. :p