Slashdot Mirror
Could Nuclear Power Wean the U.S. From Oil?
bblackfrog asks: "Is a Federal nuclear energy program viable? That is, can the USA eliminate our economic dependence on crude oil with a large scale federal program to build and maintain enough nuclear power plants to replace our current oil-based energy needs? The obvious political hurdles are (a) the left opposes nuclear energy, (b) the right opposes federalizing energy, and (c) the oil companies and Saudis wield a lot of clout. This makes a federal nuclear energy program far fetched I admit, however I'm more interested in the economics. Slashdot has covered advances in nuclear power technology. China's doing it." (Read more, below.)
"How much energy is required to replace our fossil fuel consumption? What are the initial costs of the program, and just how cheap could the electricity be? How expensive would it be for our industries to convert? How expensive for home and auto conversions? How much of this cost should be picked up by the government? Bottom line: is nuclear power cheaper than our current oil-driven middle-east policy, with all of its blowback?"
Rather a high usage rate, isn't it? Our current electrical generation capacity from all sources would only require about 2% of that.
Ignoring breeder reactors, of course.
"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
It's nuke-ular. Just ask the president.
Can I get an eye poke?
Dog House Forum
another exciting episode of Questions That Were Answered in 1950.
Can a *different form of energy* wean *country* from *current mainstream form of energy*???
To get rid of waste:
Load it on the space elevator then shoot it into sun, another nearby star or just heave it in the direction of Pluto.