Are There More Nukes in Our Future?

Read the accounts of the ongoing nuclear accidents, or catastrophes (yes, plural) in Japan, and you begin to wonder: why use nuclear at all?

The events were explained to a New York Times reporter by someone who is in the business of promoting the nuclear industry. Despite the source, the series of events in Japan make it very clear: humans don't really know what they're doing! Why, in god's name (or names), doesn't everybody go massively into solar, wind, tidal and other renewable power sources? It's obvious, just from the descriptions of what is breaking down--despite massive safety precautions and safety redundancy--that the nuclear people are brewing up a really powerful stew, and they don't have any control--they only think they do--over whether it boils over and makes a terrible mess.

I always wanted my grandchildren to have three heads.

The US gets about 20% of its power from nukes. But nuclear power plants are incredibly capital intensive. The 50's myth of nearly free energy was upended when it became apparent how dangerous nuclear was. So, to build a nuclear power plant will cost billions, usually billions more than first estimated, and a whole security force and apparatus must be maintained to protect it, since it's a terrorist target and threat. Having nuclear power plants festooning the landscape bolsters our security state. After all, they are dangerous, as Japan is demonstrating.

But why should we build more of them?

“The president believes that meeting our energy needs means relying on a diverse set of energy sources that includes renewables like wind and solar, natural gas, clean coal and nuclear power,” said a White House spokesman, Clark Stevens, several days ago, remarks made in light of the ongoing nuclear catastrophes in Japan.

Note, Obama also wants to rely on "clean coal," even though most experts say it's an oxymoron, but then Illinois, from which he now hails, is a big coal-producing state.

It's really all about who has the money. A nuclear power plant requires lots of money, but its investors arrange it so they can mint it, once it's in operation. A utility is a regulated monopoly, and so, there is a guaranteed return on capital negotiated with the regulators. Ten percent might be considered a "fair return," so, 10% of $10 billion is a lot more than 10% of $100 million. Big profits, even if expensive electricity.

Coal companies also have money. So do the gas frackers, who want to come drill in my neighborhood!

We'll destroy the habitable planet we inherited, because of money, and the power it wields. Some of the earth will become radioactively toxic, some of it will be desert, and some will be flooded, poisoned or freakishly frozen. Huge winds will tear down puny human habitations, just like the tsunami. End of Empire? What about end of civilization?

Can't we just stop being so stupid?