Three days after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami struck Japan, killing an estimated 10,000 people and leaving many more destitute, the country is still struggling to avert nuclear disaster, with problems reported at four separate nuclear power plants.
"Nuclear plant operators in Japan worked frantically to try to keep temperatures down in several reactors crippled by the earthquake and tsunami, wrecking at least two by dumping sea water into them in last-ditch efforts to avoid meltdowns."
Well, so much for that $10 billion investment. How long will it take to rebuild/replace these two units?
At what cost? Who will pay for it? Jobs?
"Japan's nuclear crisis intensified Sunday as authorities raced to combat the threat of multiple reactor meltdowns and more than 180,000 people evacuated the quake- and tsunami-savaged northeastern coast where fears spread over possible radioactive contamination.
Nuclear plant operators were frantically trying to keep temperatures down in a series of nuclear reactors — including one where officials feared a partial meltdown could be happening Sunday — to prevent the disaster from growing worse."
Of course, this could never happen in the US...those Japanese are using old, antiquated technology. Our new modular reactors could never have a problem like this ...we know it all...!!!!!!!!
And who cares about the 180,000 people evacuated...their lives changed...exposed to radiation?...they are expendable...the country needs cheap, safe, cost-effective electricity, and every one knows there are no cost competitive alternatives!
Remember, renewables offer us a very wide variety of small scale, decentralized, independent, local generation capabilities...not the huge centralized power plants that create complete chaos and havoc in the event of an accident.
A lot of lessons will be learned from this...all for the better...just another nail in that nuclear coffin.
Many references.....here just one
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110313/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_earthquake_nuclear_crisis
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The Republican leadership continues to show its continued total IGNORANCE, LIES, and MISINFORMATION in saying the US needs nuclear power to free us from our dependence on middle east oil. NOT TRUE...even a fourth grader can figure this out. Nuclear power plants produce ELECTRICITY....that's all. Less than 3% of the oil we use in this country is used for electricity generation...usually for emergency back up power, and for remote locations where gasoline/diesel generators are used. 70% of our oil use is for transportation fuels, and until we get the "all electric car" on the road, nuclear power plants do nothing to replace imported oil. And even then, nuclear will not be needed.
The push for nuclear has nothing to do with energy reality. It's just a giant suction of billions and billions of public dollars by the "big rich energy boys!"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/13/japan-nuclear-reactor_n_835057.html
https://flowcharts.llnl.gov/energy.html
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One last quip for now.....here is a very heartfelt news story...from "Business Day"...
The headline is :"The crisis could hurt the Australian uranium industry."
Bummer! All those jobs lost......but wait...look at all the jobs to be gained and all the money to be spent decommissioning and dismantling these destroyed radioactive reactors and disposing of all the wastes...I think Texas is considering putting in a bid to store the wastes...but, they'll have to fight Utah for it!
As always....life is very interesting...never a dull moment.
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