From Deseret News archives:
Yucca Mountain is a loser
They might as well propose the construction of a perpetual-motion machine.
In truth, the only thing in the world that seems to generate its own perpetual motion is the political debate over Yucca Mountain, which already is nearly a decade past its scheduled opening date. The projected price tag recently shot up to $77 billion. That's real money, even for the U.S. government, and especially during a time of war.
Oh yes, and that fellow from Nevada, Harry Reid, remains the Senate majority leader, and he hates the idea. That makes final congressional approval of Yucca about as likely as seeing a unicorn leap through the halls on Capitol Hill. Even in this Halloween season, no one will be able to conjure up that kind of trick, regardless of the treat.
The momentum toward nuclear energy is unmistakable. At the moment, it is felt most in China, India and Russia, where new plants are being considered. Already, the price of uranium has soared to levels approaching those of the mid-1970s. Here in Utah, old claims are being reopened. Uranium mines once again hold the promise of making a few people quite rich.
Despite the cries of environmentalists, a lot of people realize that nuclear power is a way to generate a great deal of affordable energy without contributing to global warming. Other clean alternatives, such as solar or wind-generated power, have not yet developed to the point where they are viable.
But if the spent fuel rods generated by nuclear plants were reprocessed, the amount of waste requiring long-term storage would be greatly reduced. Likewise the amount of energy generated by endless debates in Washington over whether to spend billions on Yucca Mountain.
Recent comments
There is a mistake in the article. In 2002, Congress approved Yucca...
Matt | Oct. 11, 2007 at 1:27 p.m.
They don't need an "incentive" -- they need an end to the regulations...
Keith R. Wood | Oct. 10, 2007 at 9:14 p.m.
YMP Emeritus,
I couldn't agree with you more. I am a Las
Vegas...
SLC Native | Oct. 10, 2007 at 4:02 p.m.
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