Yes, the heart of the problem. As Nuclear energy use increases so does chance of Nuclear material falls into the wrong hands. I would also add low level waste does have health risks, to the population of Utah if store here.
You look at Pakistan and India and the world has not done a good job containing it. N Korea comes into mind. The power contained in the small size is the problem. Erik That is the problem with reprocessing and why the US hasn't followed
France. I think we can do it safely in the US but we don't want Iran doing it because of the fear they will use the plutonium for weapons.
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 3:21 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Wind Energy
Don,
I think of the problem we are having Iran. As I understand one of the "recycling" scenarios is the production of weapons grade material. Am I wrong, is that not where much of our weapons grade material come from right?
It seems somewhat to get to the issue of proliferation as well. Are we going to tell other countries they cannot develop it? Enough said.
Erik
"Then why is Europe trying to ship theirs to us? Why don't they store
theirs on site?"
I think most of this is coming from Italy and is considered low and intermediate level waste. Low level waste is from such things as medical uses and can be handled safely with only minimal precautions. Intermediate is more dangerous and requires special handling. Some of this comes from Nuclear Reactors. Most countries do not reprocess like France does.
There are real concerns about reprocessing see http://www.carnegieendowment.org/events/?fa=eventDetail&id=1136&prog=zru
See "Why the French Like Nuclear energy"
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/reaction/readings/french.html
Even with reprocessing there is still a necessity to stockpile or bury some waste. Since Obama is closing Yucca Mountain I am not sure what the U.S. will do.
One short term solution (50-100 years) is to greatly expand natural gas production and uses. It is much more environmentally friendly than coal, oil, ethanol and the only byproducts are water and CO2, but much less CO2 than the other fuels. There is no sulfur or other pollutants. If the U.S. would convert to natural gas vehicles we would dramatically reduce CO2 emissions (assuming that is really a problem). The U.S. has large reserves of natural gas - some off limits due to wilderness areas etc.
Hydrogen cars are also a possibility but the cheapest way to get hydrogen is from natural gas. Hydrogen from water through electrolysis is expensive and takes a lot of energy. If we had abundant nuclear power from fission or in the future from fusion this would be a good way to go.
There are tradeoffs to every kind of energy production except possibly fusion -- too bad Pons and Fleishmann were wrong.
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 9:26 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Wind Energy
Don,
Then why is Europe trying to ship theirs to us? Why don't they store theirs on site?
Erik
Dave,
The disposal is not a major problem if we allow reprocessing of spent fuel rods on site. What is left is low level radioactive materials that can be stored on site. The problem is the US is unwilling to allow the reprocessing of spent fuel rods because of terrorism concerns about the plutonium produced. See http://www.chemcases.com/nuclear/nc-13.htm With Obama closing the Yucca site reprocessing makes the most sense but the facilities must be carefully guarded.
Don
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Dave Bennett Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 7:30 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Wind Energy
It ain't the efficiency of nuclear that I'm worried about...it's that pesky spent fuel thing:
From Wiki: As of 2007, the United States had accumulated more than 50,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel from nuclear reactors. Underground storage at Yucca Mountain in U.S. has been proposed as permanent storage. After 10,000 years of radioactive decay, according to United States Environmental Protection Agency standards, the spent nuclear fuel will no longer pose a threat to public health and safety.
Thats only 400 generations give or take. What do they say? If they can't take a joke...
Dave
On Mar 11, 2009, at 7:09 PM, Patrick Wiggins wrote:
Still, until the efficiency of wind catches up with nuclear, I've no problem with nuclear.
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