General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Nuclear renaissance? US OKs new reactor design [View all]a2liberal
(1,524 posts)without limiting how much humans can do. Conservation is a limiting idea that can't really fly in the long run without limiting everyone's quality of life and other alternative energy sources don't give us enough power (they only maybe replace current consumption). It is only expensive because it is not used/researched enough.
Don't get me wrong, I think it should be the government doing it instead of subsidizing private companies, and should be much more strictly regulated, but it should be actively pursued/developed (especially fusion research where the US has lagged behind in supporting international efforts)
As the article says, there are MUCH safer designs ( see http://www.google.com/search?q=safer+reactor+designs ) that have been held back (both research and implementation) be irrational fear-mongering of nuclear power based on the first generation and even nuclear weapons fear-mongering. (Much waste can be reprocessed instead of having to find storage -- win-win, but that was banned for the longest time due to some ridiculous fears about it being used for weapons)
Anyway, I didn't really want to get into a debate about this, just express my happiness at the news. I'll let someone else have the last word on it if they want because I'm honestly not interested in trying to change people's minds right now.