BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
A few minutes ago a blast occurred at Japan's Fukushima No. 1 plant. The 8.9+ earthquake off the coast of Sendai disabled the plant's systems that cool down the reactor's fuel rods and the heat inside the reactor core rose uncontrollably. At the moment it's believed that the reactor may be in meltdown stage. Not good.
But perhaps really not good for those in America who have been advocating for the expansion of nuclear power as way to offset the nation's dependence on other sources of energy.
So, the questions for the Ricochet community - Does this effectively end any possibility to expand the building of additional nuclear power plants in America? Will it have any effect? If so, what is likely to happen in the ensuing months and years? Will Obama use this as an excuse not to move forward on his previously articulated support for nuclear power much as he restricted oil drilling in the wake of the BP oil disaster?
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Nov '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
My husband and I were thinking exactly the same thing last night, before the blast. The opponents of nuclear power love these things.
Jul '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
I am for expanding the US's use of nuclear power but I have to admit the situation in Japan gives me pause. When things go wrong and a country's ability to respond is severely taxed adding a nuclear crisis to the mix is a nightmare. The last few years have also caused me to severely downgrade my faith in large organizations of both the private sector and government variety. The sentiment that well paid professionals must know what they are doing now sends shivers down my spine.
The political ramifications are pretty simple adding more nuclear power to the American grid is now politically dead if it wasn't already. At this point only the necessity of massively increased energy prices will move the US to adopt nuclear power.
Sep '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
I certainly agree with regard to my distrust of large organizations. It is also true that what meager nuclear expansion we have on going is very slow. I heard the CEO of a large electric utility talk about this subject about 3 years ago. Just expanding an existing nuclear facility requires a review of seismic data, construction plans etc and its all done sequentially by the same people at the nuclear regulatory commission. If this disaster results in new rules and regulations as they done with off shore drilling we will see those delays extended. If it had been a large oil refinery instead of a nuclear plant would that make it less awful?
Jun '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
Never let a crisis go to waste.
Jun '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
Get out your shovels, folks. We still have lots of coal. Btw, our brain trust at Government Motors has bet the house on electric cars. Our leader, President Zero, has publicly acknowledged his hatred of coal and his desire to see electric rates skyrocket. So who the heck is in charge of this country and where are they taking us?
P.S.
My prayers and sympathies are extended to our Japanese brothers and sisters. I hope our Navy is doing everything it can to help.
Oct '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
The dangers of modernity continue to mount. Is there no safe way into the future? Perhaps it is best to let it all go down into the ashes of yet another fallen civilization. After all, we have created a monster. Nuclear meltdown, global warming, river pollution and so many more pathologies of modern living. Let it all go down.
Then, we can all go back to gentler and safer times. We would all die from typhus,typhoid, diphtheria, malaria and the many diseases that are now mostly the bane of the third world.
Or perhaps simply be replaced by a more advanced people, like the Muslims.
Jul '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
I have been a structural designer for thirty years.
This video of swaying buildings is one of the most impressive things I have ever seen.
The bent they did not break, during a 1200 year event!
Im sure our nuclear power plans just took a hit. Im in favor of nukes "done right" but I left a nuke project (not power generation) last year out of frustration over the out of control bureaucracy, make work mentality,needlessly complexity and careless (kindest word I can think of) union construction crews.
The swaying buildings are proof of what can be accomplished but the design and construction process has to be improved.
That of course may miss the point because this is a 1200 year event. There maybe very little we can do in the in face of such forces. Nothing is risk free.
As of 2007 there were 55 nukes in Japan. The press is reporting 5 in "trouble".
Nov '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
Raycon - why so glum? Can't we just tax all the rich people and burn their money instead? And eat it, after all it is green. And considering that so many bills are tainted with cocaine, well, we'll all be happy and buzzed to boot!
May '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
Brian Watt
Does this effectively end any possibility to expand the building of additional nuclear power plants in America?
Yes.
cdor's right that the current administration has demonstrated utter disregard for the energy needs of this nation. But the political effects of this nuclear fiasco, even if a meltdown is avoided, will last well beyond 2012. Nuclear energy is dead in the water.
Feb '11
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
The media is desperate to attract readers. What better way than to play up the potential of nuclear disaster in Japan? So far, I see an unprecedented event, and no nuclear catastrophes at this time. If this continues to be the result, it should be an argument for more nuclear power, not less.
Aug '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
Can't do oil, can't do coal, can't do nuclear.....
Whale oil may be poised for a comeback at this rate.
But seriously, for all the deaths, suffering, terror, fear , and destruction wrought by fire, I'm kinda glad we never gave up on the idea.
I have a feeling the Quest for the Holy Energy Grail is going to go on for a long, long time.
Edited on Mar 12, 2011 at 9:25amFeb '11
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
Very fortunately, natural gas supplies in the US have expanded considerably as a result of new drilling techniques, and nat gas is an excellent fuel for producing electricity. Hopefully, the decline curves for these new nat-gas developments will not turn out to be over-optimistic, and we will be able to beat back any new taxes on this fuel.
May '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
It shouldn't. Fault lines don't run through the Midwest. The Ring of Fire is high risk for earthquakes, not Missouri.
Aug '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
Actually, fault lines do exist.
The just recently shut down areas in Arkansas because of increase seismic activity.
And overlook the New Madrid fault at your (and millions of other's) own peril.
Sep '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
I started out thinking about the title of the post that started this thread: BLAST ---. I first wondered: other than that Obama is involved, why do we care if US nuclear energy goes into the toilet? We've got plenty of natural gas to use for power gen. Juuust asking.
The following is off topic - sorry. Thinking about natural gas reminded me of February of this year. There was a 30+ year cold snap in the Southwest. And a bunch of New Mexicans ended up in the cold for four or five days because the natural gas supply system in Texas went down. How can such a system not be structured for a 30+ year (or many more) event? We're not to the bottom of it yet, but it turns out a lot of the energy suppliers are owned by Wall Street. Maybe conservatives - and libertarians? - need to be less accommodating of Wall Street.
Jul '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
The long term aim of the left is to get us out of our cars, starve the suburbs of energy, and force us into tighter clusters where the population can be more closely controlled for the social engineering that makes life better for everybody.
Nov '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
Another Three Million Island. The movie will be out in the fall.
Sep '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
Not quite true. New Madrid
May '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
nordman
Actually, fault lines do exist.
The just recently shut down areas in Arkansas because of increase seismic activity.
And overlook the New Madrid fault at your (and millions of other's) own peril. · Mar 12 at 9:17am
Alright that's fair. It still seems to me that there are parts of the country with very minimal chance for earthquakes. This news shouldn't effect building nuclear plants there.
Aug '10
Re: BLAST! Did America's Nuclear Aspirations Just Melt Down?
Yes, they sure do have a thing for trains, don't they?
Cars give people autonomy, choices, and freedom. Cars bad.