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10% of US Energy Derived From Old Soviet Nukes

Posted by timothy on from the what-about-the-peak-nukes-problem dept.

Nrbelex writes "The New York Times reports that about 10 percent of electricity generated in the United States comes from fuel from dismantled nuclear bombs, mostly Russian. 'It's a great, easy source' of fuel, said Marina V. Alekseyenkova, an analyst at Renaissance Bank and an expert in the Russian nuclear industry that has profited from the arrangement since the end of the cold war. But if more diluted weapons-grade uranium isn't secured soon, the pipeline could run dry, with ramifications for consumers, as well as some American utilities and their Russian suppliers.'"

8 of 213 comments (clear)

  1. In Soviet Russia... by RobertB-DC · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... oh my goodness, I can't bring myself to do it. Go on without me! For great justice!

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
  2. So... the solution is more nukes? by Kenja · · Score: 5, Funny

    So the solution to the energy problems we face, is to stockpile more nukes so we can use them for fuel when they get past their "best used by" date?

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    1. Re:So... the solution is more nukes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      No. In the path uranium -> nukes -> nuclear fuel, it is cheaper to go directly from A to C. This is talking about going from B to C only because people already went overbroad going from A to B as a solution to "security" problems. You can't justify going from A to B from an energy standpoint.

  3. Correction by bongey · · Score: 5, Informative

    For about 10 percent of electricity in the United States, it's fuel from dismantled nuclear bombs, INCLUDING Russian ones.

    10% from all not all from Russia . Dammit it is the first sentence.

  4. Re:There would BE no supply problem... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Funny

    Better yet bring radium back to popular use. When Curie first discovered it they made makeup out of the stuff.

    So that's where the term 'hot chick' came from. Thanks, always wondered about that.

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  5. Re:What a waste... by Conchobair · · Score: 5, Funny

    If we are sending it to Glen Beck the question is:

    Why hasn't Obama denied he is powering America's future with his secret Communist/Soviet nuclear power? What is he hiding?

  6. They aren't wasted. by pavon · · Score: 5, Informative

    I don't know about Russia, but the US military frequently uses it's old launch vehicles (or at least the engines) for suborbital weapons tests and satellite launches. For example, the Minotaur series of rockets by Orbital Sciences use old Minuteman and Peacekeeper engines. I'm sure there are many other examples.

  7. Re:There would BE no supply problem... by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Looks like the main drawback is the liquid sodium coolant, because sodium is so reactive. What other metals might work?

    It's reactive if you let it out. We know how to handle liquid sodium.

    Otherwise, I don't see a downside here, at least not compared to traditional reactors. If there is one, someone kindly pipe up.

    It's nookulur. Clinton defunded it with one of his first executive orders, and Gore and Kerry lead the fight to kill it in the Congress the next year. At the time the speculation was it was payback to environmental lobbyists - Sierra Club is against anything nuclear, for instance.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)