McCain Calls for more nuclear reactors

Posted by Sharon Brown on June 18, 2008 at 5:32pm in Politics

This posted on my internet company's home page this afternoon:

"Sen. John McCain called Wednesday for the construction of 45 new nuclear reactors by 2030 and pledged $2 billion a year in federal funds "to make clean coal a reality," measures designed to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

In a second straight day of campaigning devoted to the energy issue, the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting also said the only time Democratic rival Barack Obama voted for a tax cut it was a "break for the oil companies." ..."

He goes on to point out that the US hasn't built a new nuclear reactor in 30 years. He also says the knowledge and "manufacturing base" to build them is stale after three decades.

What are your thoughts on this? Are there safety concerns with building the plants after so long? Have there been improvements in exsisting plants that would make any new ones even safer?

Tags: mccain, nuclear, politics

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Permalink Reply by AlternativeEnergy.com on June 18, 2008 at 6:39pm: It's amazing how much power nuclear plants can generate ... but I don't think there is a solution yet for transporting and storing spent fuel. That's just unacceptable. It seems cheap because they are not paying to clean up the garbage. If all costs were included, cleaner forms of energy would be more competitive, particularly wind and concentrated solar thermal.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jim C. on June 19, 2008 at 7:47am: Have you ever heard of a banking institution loaning money for a nuclear facility?? Do you really think that State Farm would insure such a project?? They are all financed by the federal government. Know why?? Nobody in there right mind would invest a billion dollars in a project that can become a 2+ billion dollar liability inside of 10 minutes!! Take a look at Three Mile Island and ask the Russians about the little problem they had at Chernoble. (sorry, that was my best guess on how to spell that one) LOL; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sharon Brown on June 19, 2008 at 9:36am: Very good point Jim. Do you think McCain's proposal stands any chance of even getting government funding? I thought it was the Dem's who liked to raise taxes. With no backing from private institutions, how would the government fund such a thing?

I think you did a fine job on Chernoble!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jim C. on June 19, 2008 at 10:19am: Sharon,
When it comes to government funding, don't forget they own the printing company that makes all the money, and they have shown us that they know how to spend it like a drunken sailor! Thats why our dollar is worth only 3 cents compared to the dollars value in the early 1900's when the federal reserve was established. I think we should all put our foot down and let them know we have had enough of there foolish spending. If we had 1/2 of the money they have squandered away on just the Araq adventure and invested it in the infratstructure this country so desparately needs, we would be well on our way to solving this mess. Just imagine what a 1/2 a trillion dollar investment in wind, thermo-solar, PV solar, hydro-electric and other renewables would mean to this country. I would make a guess that that much money would put solar panels on just about every commercial building in the U.S. True, the repubs. don't like to raise taxes, they like to raise the national debt, which in turn deflates the dollars value, which causes inflation and drives the price of everything higher. It also opens the door for multi-national corporations to march into this county and start buying our companys at bargin basment prices. Sheesh, you got me on my soap box now.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jim C. on June 19, 2008 at 10:29am: Woops, I meant Iraq.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sharon Brown on June 19, 2008 at 12:19pm: Who would have thought making more money would ultimately put less in our pockets?

Meanwhile, I've got $63 left in my bank account until tomorrow and I need to put $50 of that into my gas tank tonight. I hope I don't need to eat. What a frivolous use of money. Food. Geez.

Soapbox understood Jim. I feel it too.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jim C. on June 20, 2008 at 6:35am: Sharon,
I would loan you a hundred bucks untill next friday but I have to put $200.00 in my service truck's gas tank. LOL!!; ▶ Reply to This