July 5, 2018 - John Shanahan
Comment #1 to Bloomberg BNA about “New Nuclear Tech Won’t Help U.S. Avoid ‘Profound’ Climate Problem” This short article covers vast complex topics about wind, solar, fossil fuels, and nuclear energies, man-made global warming, man-made climate change and man-made rising oceans with simple broad statements from “experts.” Some statements are very accurate. Other statements lack scientific basis and cause serious problems to get to the right conclusions. If the ideas in this article are followed and the logic and reasoning turns out to be wrong, the consequences of going without fossil fuels are dire. Accurate statements, with some words added for clarification: 1) “New nuclear reactor technology won’t be enough to save the nuclear power industry in the United States.” As long as the policy is to use natural gas for base load electricity because it is cheap and convenient instead of using it for its highest purposes in commerce, industry, and vehicle fuel, new super safe nuclear technology will not be purchased, except in special situations. 2) Nuclear power is fading quickly in the U.S. 3) “In the absence of a dramatic change in market conditions, political will, and substantial subsidies, there is virtually no chance that the United States will be able to undertake the construction of additional large LWR (light water reactor) power plants in the next several decades.” 4) Nuclear power could become more viable if spent nuclear fuel could be economically and safely re-used. The rest of the article about man-made climate change, global decarbonization, demonizing fossil fuels and generating substantial nuclear waste is subjective, inaccurate and likely going to be proven wrong. Following the reasoning and conclusions of this article will be “solving” the wrong problem at tremendous cost, human suffering and environmental destruction. The predictions of catastrophic man-made global warming, catastrophic man-made climate change, catastrophic man-made climate disruption, catastrophic man-made ocean rise and flooding of coastal cities are very likely wrong. All these things happen, but they are caused by nature. Assuming mankind will not destroy himself by other 1