The U.S. dollar as world currency

There is a lot of news about the U.S. dollar (USD) and how sustainable it is as the world currency in the future. While I don’t expect a major shift away from the dollar during my lifetime, we do see currencies and their use gradually changing over time.

• Currently the USD represents 58 percent of the world’s central bank reserves. is is down from 75 percent in 2000. is reserve currency is a magnet for foreign investment in the United States, according to William Greiner, CFA®.

• Some of the reasons for the renewed interest in world currencies is due to Russia, China and India talking with Brazil and South America about creating a new currency to vide 20% of U.S. electricity. We have a eet of nuclear-powered submarines. ey seem to operate without problems. But some questions remain about nuclear safety. Would you want a large-scale reactor in your town or city? I have to also wonder about nuclear technology falling into the wrong hands.

Many have been closely following the progress in Wyoming of a nuclear plant planned next to a coal plant at Kemmerer. TerraPower, the company founded by Bill Gates in 2008, says it will require less water and produce less nuclear fuel waste while plugging nicely into old coal plants. It projects cost of $4 billion for this plant that will use Natrium technology.

WyoFile reported that while in Kemmerer during early May, Gates called it a “pioneering move,” key to the global energy future. is project is projected to be ready in in 2030. Paci Corp, a major regional power provider, has said it could add ve more such Natrium reactors at existing coal- red plants in Wyoming and Utah.

Another potential model is assembly-line-style production of small modular reactors, lowering costs. at sounds appealing, but by de nition that model will not replace the big coal plants at Pueblo and Craig. For that matter, it does not yet exist.

Here in Colorado, I hear people with degrees in nuclear engineering express doubts about nuclear. State

Letter To The Editor

Let’s go Rodeo

Financial Strategies

challenge the USD. ey want to trade directly with each other in their own currencies.

Let’s take a look at the current facts, according to JP Morgan.

• China’s currency the Renminbi (RMB) was the fth most traded currency in the world last year.

• e U.S. share of global trade is about twelve percent, and the U.S. share of global GDP is about 25 percent. Yet the

SEE KUMMER, P13

Sen. Chris Hansen, at the recent legislative hearing, objected to how a witness had characterized his skepticism about nuclear. “It has nothing to do with science or technology,” said Hansen, who has a degree in nuclear engineering. “It’s the cost pro le.” He cited a recent Georgia reactor that came in at $33 billion, three times the projected cost. It’s not the only example.

Chuck Kutscher got his master’s degree in nuclear engineering and worked in the nuclear sector California before turning his attention to solar in 1978 and moving to Colorado. “New nuclear power plants, including new U.S. reactor technologies currently under development, will likely be too expensive and take too long to build to make a signicant contribution to climate change mitigation,” he says.

In Boulder, Oliver Stone’s movie talked little of costs. But in Pueblo, a representative of Idaho National Laboratory, speaking to a municipal energy study group, openly conceded that cost remains the million dollar question.

She misplaced a comma or two in that string of zeroes, though. It’s the billion dollar question. Many billions.

Allen Best publishes Big Pivots, which chronicles the energy and water transitions in Colorado and beyond. Subscriptions are free at bigpivots. com; donations are welcomed.

I, personally, have no problem with the city being a landlord for the Rodeo Building.

It is a shame, however, that the Arts was Group was evicted to make room for something that never materialized. In the process, the building was not cared for and the pipes froze, which means that major work and expense will be necessary to bring it up to snu for ANY re-use.

By the way, there is PLENTY of parking in that area. ere is a huge blacktop area at the Fire Station that could be re-designed and re-purposed for parking... not just used for recycling containers. As well, the Presbyterian Church very close by has a large parking lot. at church group does great work for the community and allowing them some compensation for the use of their parking for community needs while they are not using it for their own church needs, would make a great and mutual arrangement for all concerned. Karen Kalavity, Westminster

Call first: 143 S. 2nd Pl., Brighton, CO 80601

Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110

Phone: 303-566-4100

Web: Northglenn-ThorntonSentinel.com

To subscribe call 303-566-4100

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

SCOTT TAYLOR Metro North Editor staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LUKE ZARZECKI Community Editor lzarzecki@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN FRANKS Production Manager efranks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Sentinel.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please Include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone. Email letters to staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel (ISSN 1044-4254)(USPS 854-980) A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 143 S. 2nd Pl., Brighton, CO 80601.

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WESTMINSTER, COLORADO and additional mailing o ces.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110 the comare