Luke Ramseth reports that the seemingly not-so-bright future for the U.S. nuclear industry was a key focus Tuesday at the Intermountain Energy Summit. Experts noted that older nuclear plants closing prematurely, and new ones facing expensive regulations are the cause of the attitudes expressed. They lamented lingering fears among a small segment of society (mostly Liberals) about safety, and the industry lack of success in shifting the conversation toward nuclear benefits. Speeches and discussion panels focused on nuclear energy and renewables such as wind and solar power. This year theme is Innovations and Opportunities in Clean Energy.
With his morning address, Shellenberger mentioned recent nuclear plant closures in California, where wind and solar power have thrived in large part because they are included in state renewable energy standards. Ignorant people are just afraid of nuclear, Shellenberger mentioned. He mentioned polling that shows that nuclear is only more favorable than coal plants among the public, (but not natural gas. So much for the public concern about climate impact.) But Shellenberger said it was all a giant misunderstanding about the dangers of nuclear power and the waste it produces. He said the industry has not focused on the right message that nuclear produces large amounts of steady electricity while being carbon-free... (But it is not that industry is doing a poor job of telling the nuclear story but that the public is polarized now that energy selection has become politicized as well and does not hear the message.
Big industry (nuclear power plants) vs little industry (windmills and free-sun machines) are on opposite sides of the current political spectrum. NuScale Power is developing little nuclear power plants that attract the Left because they are little and socialized. Utah Systems officials are discussing progress on the small modular nuclear reactor designs.) Until some people become unmemed, the politics will prevail.
Original URL: http://www.postregister.com/articles/featured-news-daily-email/2016/08/09/speakers-highlight-nuclear-energy-struggles
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