Over at The Denver Post, columnist Al Knight has cracked the code with another member of the "no solutions" gang on questions of energy and the environment -- in this case, the Sierra Club:
More nuclear plants would improve the convenience and therefore the use of electric or hybrid cars, reducing air pollution in the bargain. More electric and hybrid cars would reduce dependence on foreign oil.Glad to see more folks cracking the code. The faster this happens, the closer we'll get to crafting real solutions that protect our environment and the nation's energy security at the same time.
This trifecta of potential blessings has utterly failed to impress the Sierra Club. A posting on its website (sierraclub.org) flatly states the club "opposes the licensing, construction and operation of new nuclear reactors" pending the achievement of two important objectives (which are impossible to meet):
There must be a national and "global" policy to eliminate "energy over- use" and "unnecessary economic growth." It is already obvious that the United States has no power to prohibit "unnecessary economic growth" around the globe.
[...]
What the Sierra Club seeks is a commitment by the American people to abandon development of adequate energy sources in the hope that other sources might be developed before the economy collapses.
Unless all common sense has been sucked into the ozone layer, saner minds must prevail.
The Sierra Club aside, before America finds the kind of energy it wants, it must continue to obtain the energy it needs.
Comments
Speaking about "collapsing economies" check out Finnish website on the EPR under construction in Finland. Imagine how quickly an economy could collapse trying to build a lot of these boondoogles:
http://www.olkiluoto.info/en/12/3/86/
Gunter, NIRS
Yeah, those Finns sure are stupid, trying to meet their obligations for reducing GHG, being less dependent on Russian-supplied natural gas, being environmentally responsible. They should know better and just rely on solar energy for their needs. After all, given their location, everyone knows its an ideal place to utilize solar.
Tell you what, Mr. Gunter, why don't you and NIRS and the Sierra Club get back to us after the EPR has collapsed the Finnish economy. You should have no problem waiting that long, since you yourself have commented on "how quickly an economy could collapse" by doing what the Finns are doing.
3.2 billion Euros that's $4.16 billion US.
Another thing to ponder is how "fixed price" has safety implications on QA/QC for nuclear safety systems. Know of any cheap parts for safety systems? Counterfiet, even? That wouldn't be news either. Being behind schedule indicates that cost is out of control as well.
"Fixed date" now that's another question that has very real safety implications... as a friend of mine who lives next to Braidwood, "These are't chocolate factories, right?"
Go to the above referenced website and look at the STUK Investigation Report 1/06 (10.7.2006)from Finland's Nuclear Reactor Regulation. Get real, gentlemen, there is nothing "fixed" about an operational license date if safety issues are not being closed out satisfactorily. Unless, of course, "the fix" is in on the regulator as is too often the case with NRC.
According to this STUK report, the safety culture at the construction site is currently a big safety concern. No surprise, like that hasn't happened at other reactor construction sites before? You name it, there were loads of problems, from increased DWI arrests at shift changes during Seabrook's shoddy construction to Watts Bar's perpetual construction for 26 years, poor safety culture results in loads of re-work and work arounds with a demoralized work force and plenty of built-in safety vulnerability.
And documented safety issues are piling up at OLKILUOTO; no QC for the concrete pour of the reactor basemat; wrong grain size of the steel for the hot leg reactor steam line that is incompatible with Finnish safety inpections requiring UT analysis; deficiencies and manufacturing problems with the steel containment liner and; the list goes on.
I wonder if Finnish newspapers have the translated version of the "Peanuts" comic strip? They would be likening the Olkiluoto experience to Lucy offering Charlie Brown another kick at the football, and next thing you know, he's flat on his back, again.
Need we go into Lungmen for the ABWR construction experience?
Gunter, NIRS
That project turned into a mess because the politicians stopped and restarted it half a dozen times. That's a sure way to make something go over schedule and budget.
As an analogy, if I contract with a builder to build a house and the builder doesn't meet agreed milestones I don't make a progress payment until the milestone is reached. Similarly, if the builder builds a house that fails final inspection for a certificate of occupancy, then I don't pay, or take delivery, until that situation is rectified.
It is reported that the Finnish regulator has very high standards and is independent from TVO. I have no doubt that Areva will live up to its contractual obligations and deliver a licencable plant, albeit late.