Nuclear Energy Is "Best Option"

In an editorial today in the Asbury Park Press, James McGovern, a consultant to industry and government on nuclear energy issues, touts nuclear energy as the nation's greatest relief from the increasing cost and volatility of natural gas supplies.

McGovern offers a detailed explanation of why America's growing dependence on natural gas is so dangerous:

No longer used only for home heating and in the production of petrochemicals, natural gas is now burned at power plants that generate nearly 30 percent of New Jersey's electricity and 20 percent of the nation's power. And the amount we use for electricity is rapidly increasing. More than 90 percent of the new electric-power capacity built in the past decade relies on natural gas. This heavy reliance has been one of the major pressures leading to the unstable natural gas market.

The trend is likely to become even more pronounced. The Energy Information Administration foresees continuing increases in the use of natural gas for electricity generation. So whatever energy source we choose for our homes and offices — electricity or gas — it will ultimately rely on the availability of natural gas.

McGovern then turns to nuclear energy for a solution:

At a time when the need for energy security is foremost, heavy dependence on imported natural gas is extremely dangerous. We have alternative methods for producing electricity without depending on increasing amounts from distant and unreliable countries.

The prudent course is to build more nuclear power plants that produce large amounts of "base-load" electricity, safely and reliably, without depending on unstable countries for vast amounts of fuel. And unlike fossil fuels, nuclear plants don't pollute the air or emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

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