Sources:
CSPAN for video of debate
internet
Sunday, September 28, 2008
McCain vs. Obama: Nuclear Energy
McCain wants to get 43 more nuclear power plants by the year 2023 to give people jobs. It’s one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. Also, every single one of those 43 power plants gives out 10 metric tons or 22,046 pounds of nuclear waste per year. Where are we going to put all of that? There isn’t enough safe space: it will decay and be very dangerous. What Obama is thinking of doing is much better because it takes advantages of one of the bad things happening in the world: global warming. He plans to use solar, wind and water power. Because of global warming, the earth’s climates have been intensified: when it rains, the rains are heavier, when the sun is out, the rays of light are more intense (the ozone layer is decaying), and when the wind blows, it’s even stronger. Another advantage of wind, water and solar power is that there are no emissions, except for electricity! :) :) :) ;)
Sources:
CSPAN for video of debate
internet
Sources:
CSPAN for video of debate
internet
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15 comments:
Kiran,
I think you're making an interesting argument here. However, I'd like to see some more sources here, specifically address the intensification of weather due to global warming. I'll agree that solar, wind, and water power generate less waste (and importantly, less dangerous waste) than nuclear energy, but are these the forms of power generation that Obama supports? Also, would Senator McCain pursue nuclear power to the exclusion of those other forms? *Hint: You can find either candidate's stance on a great number of issues by logging onto either of their Web sites, www.johnmccain.com or www.barackobama.*
43 nuclear plants that's stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In my opinion Mc*Cain stinks. I hope Obama wins!
Me too!
And me!
I don't want McCain for my president.
43 nuclear plants!!!!!!??????? Only 700,000 people get jobs? Does MCcain even know that there isn't enough space!!!??? What gets into him?
Hi Kiran. I think that this is a quite complicated question and that the tradeoffs are more complicated than you suggest. The principal argument for nuclear power is that it helps mitigate global warming.
Compare :
- 1 Coal Plant for 1 year = 500 MW-yr + 3.7 million tons of CO2 + 10,000 tons of SO2 + many other pollutants ( see here )
- 1 Nuclear Plant for 1 year = 1000 MW-yr + 10 tons of nuclear waste
What does 10 tons of nuclear waste look like? At a density of ~18.9 g/cm3 10 tons fits in a cube less than 1m on a side. Fits comfortably in a bathroom stall.
Please don't flush though...
And that's the huge problem, the waste is highly toxic and must be stored for a long long time. Currently, the waste is being stored locally wherever the reactors are. Plans to centralize waste storage have been developed but our govenrment has not approved their use yet.
I agree that wind, solar and other renewables are more attractive energy sources in the future. I also hope that our next president will oversee competent regulation of the 100+ nuclear power plants that we have now so they can operate as safely as possible and so that the spent fuel is dealt with responsibly.
I know isn't it crazy!!!???
I hope Obama wins too!
------Katyln-----
While Nuclear Power can be deadly, it provides some very clean energy. McCain clearly doesn't care about anyone other than himself, so I think it is a stupid plan.
I don't like nuclear waste!!!!!!!
Could you be a bit more specific about "internet"?
JZ, could you possibly give us more hints as to "McCain not caring about anybody but himself please?
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