Chapter 27 – A Smashing Idea for Nuclear Storage Power Hungry – Robert Bryce Kyle Rabine

Opening Quote  “The biggest problem facing the future of nuclear power isn't science, cost, or how to handle the issue of radioactive waste. Instead, it's the equivocators.”

Equivocators  Equivocate - To avoid making an explicit statement  Fred Krupp – president of Environmental Defense Fund  Wants people to be open-minded about nuclear power  However doesn’t want new construction  Technical and political issues with nuclear waste

Political Problems  We have the answers  Lack political will  No long term waste sites  2009 Yucca mountain was shutdown by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid – Nevada  -$13.5 Billion wasted  Republicans for, Democrats against

What to do with Nuclear Waste?  Reprocessing - get back plutonium to be reused  Could in theory be used for weapons  Transmutation – bombard with “fast” neutrons to produce less radioactive metals  Hybrid reactions combine fusion and fission  Integrated energy parks  Use federal land for nuclear storage and reprocessing

Goals  Need to reduce total amount of radioactive fuel to prevent proliferation  Still need long term waste depository

KEEP POLITICS OUT OF SCIENCE

References   Bryce, Robert. Power Hungry: The Myths of. Public Affairs, Print.