The greatest fear of nuclear power opponents has always been a reactor meltdown. Today, the chances of a meltdown that would threaten U.S.public health are very little.But to even further reduce the possibility,engineers are testing new reactors that rely not on human judgment to shut them down but on the laws of nature.Now General Electric is already building two advanced reactors in Japan.But dont expect them even on U.S.shores unless things change in Washington.
The procedure for licensing nuclear power plants is a bad dream.Any time during,or even after,construction,an objection by any group or individual can bring everything to a halt while the matter is investigated or taken to court.Meanwhile,the builder must add nice-but-necesary improvements,some of which force him to knock down walls and start over.In every case when a plant has been opposed,the Nuclear Regulation Commission has ultimately granted a license to construct ends up abandoning the plant anyway.
A case in point is the Shoreham plant on New Yorks Long Island.Shoreham was a virtual twin to the Millstone plant in Connecticet,both ordered in the mid-60s.Millstone,complete for $101 million,has been generating electricity for two decades.Shoreham, however,was singled out by antinulear activists who,by sending in endless protests,drove the cost $5 billion and delayed its use for many years.
Shoreham finally won its operation license.But the plant has never produced a watt power.Governor Mario Cuomo,an opponent of a Shoreham start-up, used his power to force New Yorks publicutilities commission to accept the following settlement: the power company could pass the cost of Shoreham along to its consumers only if it agreed not to operate the plant.Today,a perfectly good facility,capable of servicing hundreds of thousands of homes,sits rusting.
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