Here’s an interesting statistic: At one point, 23% of NYC’s power needs came from non-fossil fuels. Not that great, but a hell of a lot better than the 3% after ex-Governor Cuomo closed the Indian Point nuclear reactor on April 30, 2021! (Now there’s a much better reason to fire him compared to AG Leticia James’s desire to clear her way to the NY state governorship!)
It’s absurd, stupid, and short-sighted that nuclear power is not among the energy sources used to fight against global warming! While it has some problems (getting rid of fission products and heat pollution of waterways from the coolants), these are minimal with modern reactor technology and not nearly as damaging to the environment as fossil fuels.
Hydroelectric, wind, and solar can’t even begin to compete with nuclear power either. Dams are more costly and wind turbines and solar panels chew up a lot more real estate, destroying the environment in another way. Europe has embraced nuclear power, most notably France and Germany. The US leaders and the far-left environmentalists have to stop being Neanderthals and consider nuclear reactors.
Opinions against nuclear technology are akin to a Frankenstein complex for far-left environmental activists—they represent a paranoia not based on facts (that’s nothing new in this brave new world of paranoid activists). Chernobyl and Three Mile Island as well as the Japanese disaster associated with the tsunami are touted as examples of the dangers of nuclear power. Cuomo bought into this paranoia, this anti-nuclear complex. I hasten to point out that the first two cases corresponded to old reactor technology; the Japanese case just proved that any construction on the Pacific seashore (the US Pacific coastline from California to Alaska is also susceptible) has a tsunami danger. Earthquake areas (they’re often associated with tsunamis) aren’t good spots for major construction projects either. But none of this has anything to do with reactor safety per se.
I have a problem with the infrastructure bill that was just passed and the “Build Back Better” bill that will probably be passed in some form or another: Among their provisions to combat climate change, nuclear power isn’t even mentioned! Eliminating fossil fuel usage is the major goal to achieve to combat climate change. Converting to nuclear power is one of the best ways to do that. It’s at least myopic not to even consider it, and it will probably doom our world not to do so.
We’re fighting a war now on many fronts. One is the battle to preserve our planet. Politics aside, ignoring any possible tools we can use to win that battle is moronic behavior. Let’s all work to save the planet using all the tools we have available!
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Preserving Mother Earth should be a moral imperative for anyone with any moral spine, but especially for Christians this time of year. I can’t know what Christ would have said about all the climate-change naysayers here in America, but I can’t help believing that He would consider their actions a direct attack on his Father’s magnificent and wonderful creation. In the spirit of Christmas, I hope Christians everywhere get beyond irrelevant earthly politics and work to save our planet. Merry Christmas to all, and may the spirit of Christmas fill all of us in 2022.