Why have nuclear power plants become unpopular?

Question

Back in the 60's they were very popular. Why have they become so unpopular?

Answer 1

They are currently becoming more and more popular - as the technology improves and safety features increase, as well as increasing efficiency.

Part of the reason why they became unpopular is the fear of meltdown - such as what happenned at Chenobyl in Ukraine. The area is still uninhabitable due to the nuclear fallout, and this stigma prevented nuclear power plants from cropping up across the globe.

Answer 2

Reason #1. The "no pollution" myth. Reactors do generate radioactive waste which have to go somewhere. The "somewhere" is Yucca Mtn in Nevada. Where will the next somewhere be?

Reason #2. Three Mile Island. Although the incident did not cause any casulties or damage, the spectre of it jarred many people's complacency with such plants.

Reason #3. Shoreham. This proposed plant in Suffolk Cty, NY was not built because the plant could not come up with a believable evacuation plan in case a nuclear accident occurred.

Reason #4. The debacle in "Chernobyl", where unauthorized tests with a running reactor lead to a meltdown of the core, a radioactive cloud that contaminated much of the area around the plant, and the death of hundreds of people. Let's face it, there may be accidents and problems at regular power plants, but the outcome nowhere approaches the real or fancied outcome of nuclear reactor accidents.

Answer 3

The stigma of meltdown - 3 mile island, Chernobyl, etc, makes people wary of living near them.

The problem of what to do with radioactive wastes.

But, it appears there may be nuclear Renaissance in the US as we look for green energy.

Answer 4

Because now we know that they're dangerous because of the radioactive chemicals they deal with. Also, if the wrong chemicals spill and mix, it could cause massive explosions. They're just really very dangerous.