Why aren't we building new nuclear power plants?

Question

It is safe and clean energy. We'd only have to build 400-something plants to get 100% of our energy needs met.

Coal mining kills miners. Oil causes wars. Solar is just in its infancy.

Nuclear power has a pristine safety record here in America. (Don't use Chernobyl as an example-- the Soviets half-a s s everything and their technology sucked and still does.)

So how come nothing's been built since the 70's?

There is a safe way to store the waste as well.

The Yucca Mountain project is where it's scheduled to be buried, starting at a 1,000 feet down.

More people die from oil refinery (on and off shore) accidents than any from nuclear here in the USA and coal mining accidents every single year.

Again, nuclear energy has a PRISTINE safety record.

Answer 1

'cuz that makes sense. Why would we start doing what makes sense?

Answer 2

Its the NIMBY Syndrome - Not In My Backyard. No one wants one built anywhere near them.

And, of course, there is the question of what to do with the very hazardous waste. We (the USA) don't know what to do with all the waste generated by the existing plants. What would we do with the waste from another 400 plants?

I have wondered why, instead of building many plants all over the country (and facing opposition in every one of those areas) they don't just build several nuclear plants near each other in some remote area of the country, where not many people live and there would be few people to complain?

I see you've mentioned the Yucca Mountain project. How do you suppose the waste is going to get there from everywhere in the country? By truck? By train? So, you think, if they haul radioactive waste from Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant (which distance wise, is probably the farthest nuclear power plant in the US from Yucca Mountain) people are going to be thrilled about that waste travelling by road or rail through their neighborhoods? What will happen when there is an accident with the truck hauling the waste, or a derailment of the train loaded with this waste? Think it won't happen? Look at the multiple derailments that have happened at the El Cajon pass in California. Those trains always end up exploding, because usually they are carrying Propane or some other flamable cargo. If you think the Yucca Mountain Dump is the answer to our Nation's nuclear waste disposal problem, you are sadly mistaken.

Answer 3

Don't forget three mile island, I think they had a leak in the early 80's. The reason is that the politicians are up to their eyeballs in oil. Any alternative energy source would cut into their big fat profits. I've heard that those applying for a patent for an alternative energy source are imprisoned. I wouldn't doubt this. As long as we need oil the cronies in Washington and their Arab buddies have all the power.

Answer 4

Though u have denied me Chernobyl as a reason i will still use it because i feel it still greatly affects the building of nuclear power stations today. After Chernobyl no one wants to here about possible arguments for new nuclear power station such as how eco friendly they are but people are starting to wake up to these arguments and in Britain there have been plans to build some new stations but it has come up against much resistance

Answer 5

Today's advancements in nuclear technologies no doubt make nuclear power by far the cheapest most environmentally safe energy source available. with it we can kiss the middle east good by and use it to advance other clean fuel sources.

Answer 6

All right, let's go down the list. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) makes it *really* difficult to even get a nuclear plant open -- it has to be safe. Next, everybody is a little timid about having a nuclear plant around - one wrong move, ka-blam, lean over and kiss your butt good-bye. Further, the safest place we can find to allow nuclear waste to decompose is located near Las Vegas, a major metro area, and a great source of income for the US.
And don't forget about Three Mile Island. That reactor is *still* closed.

Answer 7

Well to begin with, I agree with you completely on it being friendly to us as energy, but they don't mass produce them, due to Nuclear Meltdowns, because so many idiots work in plants now, and run them, they probably fear it. On top of that, there are quite a few energy plants, that are completely ran by the government. Such as G.E., and it would shut them down, which they fear, on top of that, our government would lose a ****-load of money because of it. Look at the Tesla Coil, which was invented, what, 30 or so years ago? Tesla was assassinated, well, supposively died by natural causes, because of his Tesla Coil being able to produce it's own energy, economically safe, and required next to no maintenence, would've eventually shut-down G.E. and the government didn't want that to happen, because of them being greedy. So, yeah, I don't know if I really answered your question, I'm just throwing idea's out at you that might make some sense.

So more or less, our society is filled with Personal Gain Satanists, they're all about their materials, wealth, and power, so they run our lives.

And yes, our chemical storage for the waste is a problem though I'm sure we know how to get rid of it, nobody wants to deal with it though, so we just throw it out hoping we don't get caught, everything that we make, has a reverse idea already created for it, so they know how to break it back down so that's friendly waste again, they just don't want to deal with it for their own health of getting sick or dying from the exposure, which is why we have machinery to do it, but whatever.

Answer 8

Because so many people are still freaked with the prospect of "nuclear" being a part of the equation and they don't really educate themselves in the benefits and reality of it.

Answer 9

ASK the environmentalist. They are the ones that have stopped many utilities companies from trying to get one built and on line.

Answer 10

It sounds good on paper, but timewise and financially, you are talking about quite an undertaking! It might happen someday, but it will be quite a ways down the road probably.

Answer 11

cos people are ignorant .they hear the word nuclear and they start running to hide under a desk