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Adam,
We should also point out that nuclear reactors
of current designs are viable alternatives to fossil fuels. They are
adequately safe and economic, if the political barriers are absent.
Jerry
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2002 11:11
AM
Subject: [cdn-nucl-l] Newest Nuclear
Reactors Seen as Viable Alternative to Fossil Fuels
Posted on Earth Vision on April 26, 2002 and at:
http://www.earthvision.net/ColdFusion/News_Page1.cfm?NewsID=20464
Adam
----------------
Newest
Nuclear Reactors Seen as Viable Alternative to Fossil Fuels
EarthVision
Environmental News
http://www.earthvision.net/
COLLEGE
PARK, MD, April 26, 2002 - Writing in the April 2002 issue of
Physics Today
(New Designs for the Nuclear Renaissance, pp. 54-60),
researchers say
nuclear power plants are increasingly seen as an
alternative to fossil fuel
power plants for a number of reasons.
According to researchers Gail H.
Marcus, of the Department of Energy,
and Alan E. Levin, of the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, the shift from
fossil fuels to new generation
nuclear plants stems from environmental
concerns and an interest in
enhancing national self sufficiency. When it
comes to greenhouse gases,
only hydroelectric and nuclear power can
generate large amounts of
electricity without high emissions say Marcus
and Levin, but hydroelectric
is impractical for any areas that lack
enough flowing water. Nuclear power
however, is not dependent on
geography they say. In addition, nuclear power
got a boost from
President George Bush's National Energy Policy, which
explicitly
supports expansion of nuclear power.
The authors point
to the newest reactors, called Generation IV machines,
which provide a
dramatic improvement in design and safety. These types
have higher
efficiencies, are mechanically simpler than their
predecessors, and could
process their own waste. The heat generated from
the nuclear plant's
operations could also be used to provide hot water
to local communities and
the plants could provide fuel for hydrogen
powered cars say the
researchers.
"We have an initiative called Nuclear Power 2010,"
explains Marcus, "The
goal is to have one or more new plants operating by
the end of the
decade. That means the commitment has to be made in the next
couple of
years."
Associated Link:
Physics Today http://www.aip.org/pt/
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