Speaking Truth To Power About Nuclear Power
This op-ed was originally published Thursday, March 19, 2015 in the Livonia Observer.
Just after the fourth anniversary of the ongoing catastrophe at Fukushima in Japan on March 11, here in Michigan we stand at a pivotal moment in the direction of our state’s energy future. Although we are half a world apart from Japan, on closer examination we’re really too close for comfort. Continue reading “Michigan’s Energy Future At A Crossroads”
This article was originally published at Bridge – News and Analysis from the Center for Michigan and is republished here by permission of the author.
Jeff Alson is an environmental engineer who has promoted sustainable transportation policies at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Ann Arbor since 1978. He is also a member of the Alliance to Halt Fermi 3 (www.athf3.org) The views presented are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the EPA. Continue reading “DTE’s Nuclear Con Game”
(Originally published Wednesday, March 11, 2015 on http://haltfermi.blogspot.com/)
Is nuclear power a good idea? Well, that depends.
Utility companies operating nuclear power plants make the basic argument, “We need the energy.” “We” in this context means “our society,” or “our economy,” or just “we, the people who use electricity.” We need the energy.
Picture yourself coming home from work at the end of the day. Man or woman, it doesn’t matter. Whichever gender you are, you may be tired from a full day of work, but still need energy to deal with ordinary household stuff – getting something to eat, fixing a leaky faucet, making sure the children do their homework, and so forth.
Well, here’s a solution. Take a hit of cocaine. That will give you the energy to deal with a whole list of household items. Cocaine will actually work – in the short term.
In order to think it’s a good idea, you have to ignore the long-term effects, and just focus on the short-term benefits. You need the energy; take cocaine. Don’t think about consequences for next month or next year. Don’t worry about making a habit of it, just get through the day.
That’s exactly the sense in which nuclear power is cocaine for the electrical grid. Sure, there’s the possibility of a meltdown, causing the permanent evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people – or millions, depending on which way the wind blows. Sure, there’s no known solution for what to do with “spent fuel” and other highly radioactive waste. Maybe we can put off dealing with it for a century or so longer. (That’s the actual summary of current nuclear industry recommendations for their toxic waste.)
Get energy now. Ignore long-term consequences. Pretend that someone will figure something out, so you don’t have to worry about it now. Just get the damned energy you “need.” if you actually accept all the consequences, maybe you’ll figure out you don’t really “need” energy that comes with all the risk of disaster.
The nuclear industry and their political servants will argue endlessly that “we need the energy.” Well, do we? Do you accept that idea, or not? That’s the fundamental question you have to answer for yourself.
Art Myatt
(Originally published Saturday, February 7, 2015 on http://haltfermi.blogspot.com/)
DTE Energy, formerly known as the Detroit Edison Electric Company, wants to build a new nuclear power plant, Fermi 3, next to Fermi 2 and the ruins of Fermi 1. The design of Fermi 3 is for approximately 1.55 billion watts of electrical energy output. It sounds like a lot of energy, and it is reasonable to wonder what this might cost. Continue reading “Costs and Choices – Fermi 3”
(Originally published Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015 on http://haltfermi.blogspot.com/)
In January of 2007, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) issued a report with the title “Michigan’s 21st Century Electric Energy Plan.” This report is still (in January 2015) available on their website at http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/electric/capacity/energyplan/index.htm. In it, they predict that demand for grid electricity in Michigan should grow at an average rate of 1.3% per year from 2006 through 2025. Continue reading “Open Letter to the Michigan Public Service Commission “