Its Nuclear Plant Closed, Maine Town Is Full of Regret

mdsolar writes in with a story about the fallout from a nuclear plant closing on a small town in Maine. "In a wooded area behind a camouflage-clad guard holding an assault rifle, dozens of hulking casks packed with radioactive waste rest on concrete pads — relics of the shuttered nuclear plant that once powered the region and made this fishing town feel rich. In the 17 years since Maine Yankee began dismantling its reactors and shedding its 600 workers, this small, coastal town north of Portland has experienced drastic changes: property taxes have spiked by more than 10 times for the town's 3,700 residents, the number living in poverty has more than doubled as many professionals left, and town services and jobs have been cut. 'I have yet to meet anyone happy that Maine Yankee is gone,' said Laurie Smith, the town manager. 'All these years later, we're still feeling the loss of jobs, the economic downturn, and the huge tax increases.'"

Comments

Except Nuclear is not the best solution

[Anonymous Coward]

Except Nuclear is not the best solution if you're talking about the least toxic.

And where the fuck do you keep getting this idea that Renewable is not there yet to support the people? Only to the extent that NO power generation is there to support the people is that true.

We don't have enough installed capacity of renewable power to support the people. We don't have enough gas installed capacity to support the people. We don't have enough coal, nuclear, gerbil or alien technology installed capacity to support the people.

There is, however, ABSOLUTELY NO REASON why enough renewables to support the people WITH CURRENT TECHNOLOGY is not possible.

We have to built it.

Which ignorant dickheads yelling "Renewables can't suppor us!!!" are trying to stop happening.

Re:What a surprise

[fermion]

I am sure that Virginia is still quite unhappy that it's slaves were freed. I know is Texas and California, on a while, are are quite unhappy that they have to comply with clean air regulation that in both states dramatically increase the cost of energy. I am quite unhappy that I cannot have a still in my backyard, and I am sure many of my neighbors would to like to cook meth.