Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Pluto]

http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9719029


A revival of the nuclear industry seems to be right around the corner. Many factors are contributing to this.
For one, energy consumption is expected to double by 2030 throughout the Western World. Another is energy independence. Australia and Canada have almost 90% of the world's known uranium deposits. They are certainly are better lot than say Saudi Arabia.
Green House gas emissions would be very low. In fact, once in operation, a nuclear power plant lets off half the emissions of solar power and is much cheaper to generate in the long run.
There are, however some pitfalls and obstacles. For one, there are security issues. People worry about terrorism of course, but there is the worry of a meltdown in the back of the public's mind. Having said that, we have come a long way since Three Mile. The technologies and protocols in place nowadays would keep any such incident at an extreme minimum.
The cost of construction is also a problem. A new reactor may cost more than a billion dollars. However, once in operation, nuclear power stations need little maintenance and operation costs are low.
These issues, notwithstanding, I see a lot of potential for the nuclear industry. After all of the initial costs, we will all save in the long run through low operational costs and even the environment. I really hope this industry succeeds.

[cbclark4]

Good luck.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clamshell_Alliance

Public Service Company of New Hampshire, the utility with majority ownership of the Seabrook Station, was bankrupted by the project. Governor Hugh J. Gallen had signed legislation prohibiting the utility from billing consumers for the costs of construction work in progress (CWIP), and the accident at Three Mile Island had increased awareness and added the requirement for an evacuation plan prior to commissioning. In the end, only one of the two planned reactors went on line.

In 2007, veterans of the Clamshell Alliance are marking the 30th anniversary of its founding with the creation of a website called, "To the Village Square: Nukes, Clams and Democracy", which relates the story of the Clamshell Alliance and why it matters today. In addition, a book and a travelling exhibit are planned.

[cbclark4]

....and more.

http://clamshell-tvs.blogspot.com/

[Pluto]

I didn't mean to say that the resurgence of the nuclear power industry is without risks. However, as a student working on a PhD in Economics, I tend to view decisions as a series of trade offs. We are really at a crossroads. Keep in mind that worldwide consumption of energy will double by 2030 so we can continue the status quo. There are consequences for that too. We would have to rely on increased demand for fossil fuels from not the most trusting nations while emitting a hell of a lot more green house gases into the atmosphere.
The benefits of nuclear energy are cleaner energy and relying on friendlier nations for uranium. Remember that most of the know uranium are in Canada and Australia, not Saudi Arabia or Venezuela. My opinion is simply that the benefits from nuclear energy far outweigh any negative consequences that may arise. The only thing we have to do is get over the initial investment, much as France has already seemed to have done.