Nuclear not the Answer

Yesterday presumptive GOP nominee John McCain toured a nuclear plant and discussed his confidence in the safety and efficacy of nuclear power. Not only was the choice of venue bizarre (the plant McCain toured, Enrico Fermi, suffered a partial meltdown in 1966), but McCain’s belief on nuclear power is irresponsible and misinformed. 

Look no further than the Hanford nuclear facility for the major problems with nuclear power. In 2006 GAP exposed dangerous and flagrant mismanagement at Hanford that caused the leak of over one million gallons of radioactive waste into the surrounding environment. This is just one of several devastating problems with Hanford. Not only does nuclear energy pose incredible risks to the communities that house them – everything from radioactive material seeping into the ground, to contaminating water sources, to widespread and devastating human health concerns, but it is also incredibly expensive. McCain’s proposal would guarantee loans of over $18 billion dollars for new reactors, and with the national debt at record levels, taxpayers should have serious concerns about that kind of commitment.

McCain supports the creation of over 45 new nuclear plants by 2030, but he has not come close to adequately addressing concerns about the safety or cost of further developing this energy source. When addressing the current and future energy crisis, America’s leaders have to be more creative and more responsible than that.

Comments

[EMT]

It is important that people know how much cheaper wind energy can be than nuclear. In my opinion, wind farms would be a big boost to our economy as a whole by creating jobs, decreasing energy costs, and helping to eliminate toxins. Why not harness what we are already given, the wind? Also, nuclear uses enormous amounts of water. That alone should stop the nuclear enthusiests in their tracks. Nuclear plants are dangerous, hazardous and not cost effective.