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Trojan Nuclear Plant
near Portland, Oregon 1992. Steam from cooling tower
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I am not "knee
jerk" against
nuclear power. It is not likely to be the monster some
fear. Nuclear
energy may make a comeback in this age of worry about greenhouse gas
from fossil fuels. Europe gets much of its electricity
from nuclear.
It may be easier to
give nuclear a comeback than
getting people to radically change their energy consumption
habits. In an age of greenhouse worry, electric cars,
powered
from nuclear energy, may be common; unless people are willing to give
up
cars.
I have never
driven, but I fear others are not like me.
It would be better
if we
could utilize
hydrogen fusion, rather than uranium fission. Solar and wind
would be better also, but nuclear is
likely to make a comeback for a while at least.
Remember the
Earth has a limited supply of uranium. Nuclear fission may not be
a monster, but it's not a panacea either.
Put
mouse cursor over image, then pull it away to edge of page. See
what some people fear.
Cooling
tower in distance at Trojan Nuclear Power plant near Portland,
Oregon.
Picture taken in 1992. Since then that plant has been
decommissioned.
It's demise was partially due to a warranty dispute between a
manufacturer
and the utility that operated Trojan. When cracks are found, who
should pay for repairs? What does that fine print say?
See picture taken at Trojan Park,
2005.
Can
people be
trusted with nuclear power?
Good question.
Here is a fantasy
news story I wrote
for
my small publication (before the web) in 1981
Israeli
protesters bomb Iraq nuclear plant
| A group of
anti nuclear protesters
made international headlines when they bombed a power plant near
Baghdad,
Iraq. Unlike most unshaven protesters, these were Israeli
military
pilots who feared a possible link between nuclear power and nuclear
weapons.
The US Reagan
administration
has suspended sale of F-16 bombers to Israel. Reagan has long
been
a staunch supporter of atomic energy. It is his contention that
nuclear
power is safe. According to US officials, Israel was acting out
of
a sense of irresponsible panic.
Israeli
officials have stood
by their conviction that a nuke in their backyard is unsafe; especially
in the hands of Iraqi president Saddam Hussien. He is said to
have
reassured the Iranians that any nuclear bombs made in his country would
be directed toward the "common zionist enemy."
Israel may
have had good reason
to fear that reactor in it's back yard, but some say she is a bit
hypocritical.
It is believed that Israel is also making atomic weapons at a reactor
in
the Negev Desert.
This piece got my
publication mentioned
in a book about obscure newsletters. That book is titled, "Cats,
Chocolate, Clowns, and other amusing, interesting and useful subjects
covered
by newsletters." Edited by Greg Mitchell. Published by
Dembner
Books.
Today we fear nuclear power in the hands
of the Iranians. On the other hand, Europe and Japan get much of
their energy from nuclear.
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