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So where do the candidates stand on new nuclear power plants? (Original Post) Skwmom Sep 2015 OP
So O'Malley is for it. Skwmom Sep 2015 #1
This message was self-deleted by its author Skwmom Sep 2015 #2
This is one of the places I'm in disagreement with Sanders. aidbo Sep 2015 #3
Two things RobertEarl Sep 2015 #5
I know. aidbo Sep 2015 #6
You have a 'nukes can be safe' dream? RobertEarl Sep 2015 #7
If you want to characterize it as a dream or fantasy, that's fine. aidbo Sep 2015 #8
O'Malley is for expanding it as part of weaning us off fossils Recursion Sep 2015 #4
As am I. NuclearDem Sep 2015 #9

Skwmom

(12,685 posts)
1. So O'Malley is for it.
Fri Sep 25, 2015, 10:15 AM
Sep 2015

http://us.arevablog.com/2009/04/14/maryland-gov-martin-omalley-on-nuclear-energy/

There is a video but there was also a transcript:

Transcript

I’m very much in favor of nuclear energy and I believe that the sort of technology that is now being employed in Europe, and by the French in particular, is something that needs to come to the United States. Certainly, over the short term I believe it holds a tremendous amount of promise and I think that we need to catch up. I think we’re way behind the ball on nuclear energy and I hope that we’ll have a third reactor that’s modern and that is safe and is state-of-the-art in the foreseeable future in Maryland.

Response to Skwmom (Original post)

 

aidbo

(2,328 posts)
3. This is one of the places I'm in disagreement with Sanders.
Fri Sep 25, 2015, 12:18 PM
Sep 2015

As a non carbon-emitting source of power, I'm for nuclear.

There are better ways to do it than most of the old old old plants we have now or like Japan's Fukushima Daiichi.

Maybe this will come up in the debates.

I think O'Malley will do well in them. It will be good for his name recognition too.

 

RobertEarl

(13,685 posts)
5. Two things
Fri Sep 25, 2015, 01:06 PM
Sep 2015

The whole process of mining to disposal of waste is carbon intensive.

And the thousand year life of the waste is a deal killer. Who are we to dump the waste on future generations?

Wind and solar are hardly carbon intensive, produce very little waste, and the waste is not deadly for thousands of years.

That's why Bernie is against nuclear... and the fact that nuclear power and nuclear weapons go hand in hand is just one more reason to get rid of and be done with making any more large scale nuclear options an option worth considering.

 

aidbo

(2,328 posts)
6. I know.
Fri Sep 25, 2015, 01:25 PM
Sep 2015

And I would be against expanding nuclear power the way we're doing it now.

But there are ways to mitigate all those issues. And Bernie's stance on nuclear isn't going to keep me from voting for him.

I'm lucky enough to live in the NW where we benefit from cheap and abundant hydro power (which has its own issues) but if we want to decrease coal & oil power across the nation, we need to make up the difference somehow. I just see smart nuclear as a good way to do that.

And policy that encourages research into new & better ways of powering our lifestyle while not harming the planet is something I believe in.

 

RobertEarl

(13,685 posts)
7. You have a 'nukes can be safe' dream?
Fri Sep 25, 2015, 01:49 PM
Sep 2015

That is a fantasy that has no historic bearing.

Nukes are not safe, will never be safe, and are the most costly form of electrical production.

There is a damn good reason insurance companies will not insure nuke plants and indeed, have clauses in individual home owner policies that exclude damages from nuke plants from being insured.

The dream is over. Done, Kaput. The dream of 'nukes are safe' has turned into a nightmare.

 

aidbo

(2,328 posts)
8. If you want to characterize it as a dream or fantasy, that's fine.
Fri Sep 25, 2015, 02:26 PM
Sep 2015

But your statement that insurance companies will not insure plants is inaccurate.

In the US at least, they are required to have insurance to operate.

The Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act (commonly called the Price-Anderson Act) is a United States federal law, first passed in 1957 and since renewed several times, which governs liability-related issues for all non-military nuclear facilities constructed in the United States before 2026. The main purpose of the Act is to partially indemnify the nuclear industry against liability claims arising from nuclear incidents while still ensuring compensation coverage for the general public. The Act establishes a no fault insurance-type system in which the first approximately $12.6 billion (as of 2011) is industry-funded as described in the Act. Any claims above the $12.6 billion would be covered by a Congressional mandate to retroactively increase nuclear utility liability or would be covered by the federal government. At the time of the Act's passing, it was considered necessary as an incentive for the private production of nuclear power — this was because electric utilities viewed the available liability coverage (only $60 million) as inadequate.[1]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price%E2%80%93Anderson_Nuclear_Industries_Indemnity_Act#How_the_law_works

Molten Salt reactors are one option that is getting renewed interest because of their relative safety.

It sounds like you've made up your mind, though.
 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
9. As am I.
Fri Sep 25, 2015, 02:35 PM
Sep 2015

Clinton has said in the past, back during the 2008 campaign, that she was "agnostic" on nuclear power.

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