tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post1585261429857961179..comments2024-02-16T17:52:44.944-06:00Comments on The Nuclear Green Revolution: Fukushima Dai-ichi: The Good, the Bad and the UglyCharles Bartonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01125297013064527425noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-90258311135606775042011-04-06T21:23:58.209-05:002011-04-06T21:23:58.209-05:00I like how you said that safety is an evolving sci...I like how you said that safety is an evolving science. Could you perhaps cover the disparity between NRC required safety changes to the GE design, and whether such changes were communicated via NRC/GE to NISA/TEPCO, and were executed? There is the NRC notice in 1989 for hydrogen venting equipment retrofits, which at first glance appears to not have been applied in Fukushima.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-43578486442138272992011-04-01T07:37:20.910-05:002011-04-01T07:37:20.910-05:00". . . maybe all those so called liberals who...". . . maybe all those so called liberals who say they are against nuclear power really are not all that liberal."<br /><br />Having common sense and being liberal are not mutually exclusive. ;-)<br /><br />I, too, have a very liberal outlook (but I'm pragmatic) on life and I also support nuclear.<br /><br />I really appreciate the civility of the debate here; Whenever I comment on Fox News stories, e.g., on AGW, I catch flack (invective, really) from the far right. When I comment on stories on HuffPost, e.g., nuclear, I get grief from the far left.<br /><br /><a href="http://mcskeptic.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">McSkeptic</a>Mickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06370087384634397051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-66668568802081428252011-04-01T06:34:52.919-05:002011-04-01T06:34:52.919-05:00Nanuel, maybe all those so called liberals who say...Nanuel, maybe all those so called liberals who say they are against nuclear power really are not all that liberal.Charles Bartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01125297013064527425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-83499439511470990442011-04-01T06:27:50.798-05:002011-04-01T06:27:50.798-05:00Excellent article. It bugs me that, because I'...Excellent article. It bugs me that, because I'm a bleeding-heart liberal, a number of organizations apparently assume I'm anti-nuclear. Opinions about energy policy (and the reality of global warming) are politicized when they should be based on the best available science.Manuel Royalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00392229225958688128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-33372961328634949932011-03-30T22:37:34.588-05:002011-03-30T22:37:34.588-05:00Charles,
Thank you for your thoughtful and skillfu...Charles,<br />Thank you for your thoughtful and skillfully written analysis. I agree wholeheartedly with most of what you wrote. I do have a different opinion, though, of the performance of nuclear industry. I have seen much engagement and practical, fact-based presentations from the nuclear community at large; NEI, ANS, nuclear executives, televised tours of nuclear plants, use of social media, etc. <br /><br />While improved, I agree it is not enough. The industry is being out played and out gunned by the likes of Greenpeace and the UCS, but it’s a great improvement over the past. I hope this experience will cause industry leaders to recognize we need to treat media and public relations with the same thoroughness, systematic planning, and practice that we do nuclear safety because both are equally important to the survival of nuclear energy as a significant power source in the USA.J Wheelerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01297139247058382607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-80882180859354102592011-03-30T14:24:24.041-05:002011-03-30T14:24:24.041-05:00Small typo should be radioactive noble gases and n...Small typo should be radioactive noble gases and not nobel gases. Other than this thumbs up!Dee Zsomborhttp://deezsombor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-70720402021409541062011-03-30T12:19:08.656-05:002011-03-30T12:19:08.656-05:00Good conversation.
http://live.washingtonpost.com...Good conversation.<br /><br />http://live.washingtonpost.com/radiation-concerns-in-the-us.html#submit-questionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-71876148236701986382011-03-30T12:14:02.738-05:002011-03-30T12:14:02.738-05:00"Tom do you understand that both coal fired p..."Tom do you understand that both coal fired power plants and your natural gas furnace and stove release radiation?"<br /><br />Did you read my post? I said this nuclear power generation is unfairly held to a higher standard than other forms of power generation.<br /><br />It will require a massive education campaign in order to change how the General Public views the risks associated with radiation.<br /><br />As an aside, I don't understand why so many posters assume that anyone questioning nuclear power does not understand the science. There is this concept that "You disagree with me, so you must be irrational or uninformed."<br /><br />On many issues, people with an equal understanding of the facts can disagree.Tom Murphynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-25658886442901075662011-03-29T20:24:13.808-05:002011-03-29T20:24:13.808-05:00Charles that was precisely my point. The actual co...Charles that was precisely my point. The actual consequences of continued fossil fuel use and the non-solution of renewables pose a far greater threat than the possible risks posed by nuclear.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-17686594027908321932011-03-29T20:09:21.383-05:002011-03-29T20:09:21.383-05:00Anon, the public of course can decide what it want...Anon, the public of course can decide what it wants to, but the angers and risks related to nuclear power, are far less than the risks that the public would be taking if it chose to persure the corse offered by renewable energy advocates.Charles Bartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01125297013064527425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-40760220518659139422011-03-29T20:03:31.897-05:002011-03-29T20:03:31.897-05:00The public might want to consider the actual conse...The public might want to consider the <i>actual </i>consequences of not pursuing nuclear energy versus the <i>possible</i> risks of doing so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-90880986242628861762011-03-29T15:02:07.976-05:002011-03-29T15:02:07.976-05:00Charles, Thank you for an excellent summary of eve...Charles, Thank you for an excellent summary of events and issues associated with the Japanese disaster and the affected nuclear power plant. <br /><br />Your point that we must be brave take risk on nuclear technology ahead is really good advice. <br /><br />I highly recommend this paper:<br />Viewpoint: We should stop running away from radiation By Wade Allison University of Oxford http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12860842<br />John TjostemAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-58714901373554172252011-03-29T14:20:41.593-05:002011-03-29T14:20:41.593-05:00A lot of radiation strikes the outer atmosphere of...A lot of radiation strikes the outer atmosphere of the earth every day, and 99.99% of it is not the least it dangerous. Radiation is not dangerous if it doesn't encounter the human body, and for most radioactive materials escaping the Fukushima reactors that will be the case. This was the case after three mile Island, and was the case for most survivors of Chernobyl who never got a radiation related sickness. The dangers of radiations from nuclear accidents is hugely overhyped.Charles Bartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01125297013064527425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-29276396444807422382011-03-29T13:53:54.482-05:002011-03-29T13:53:54.482-05:00BTW everybody who realizes the worth of nuclear en...BTW everybody who realizes the worth of nuclear energy should tell people about this chart:<br /><br />http://blog.xkcd.com/2011/03/19/radiation-chart/Jim Baergnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-11163927049970230342011-03-29T13:51:12.891-05:002011-03-29T13:51:12.891-05:00"Excuse me for saying this, but the fear of r..."Excuse me for saying this, but the fear of radiation from reactors only is crazy."<br /><br />Those reactors can release a whole lot of radiation...and in the case of Fukushima they ARE releasing a whole lot of radiation & contamination. And they reactors appear to be spiraling even further out of control...Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00989098653955627380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-43928379949536186032011-03-29T09:45:27.739-05:002011-03-29T09:45:27.739-05:00Tom do you understand that both coal fired power p...Tom do you understand that both coal fired power plants and your natural gas furnace and stove release radiation? The public only cares about radiation from nuclear power plants and chooses to ignore radiation from other sources including cosmic radiation when you fly and x-rays when you see your doctor. Some of the isotopes which the public fears from reactors, gets administered in medical tests, with out members of the public worrying. Excuse me for saying this, but the fear of radiation from reactors only is crazy.Charles Bartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01125297013064527425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-42968139890444343042011-03-29T09:43:30.621-05:002011-03-29T09:43:30.621-05:00Charles, Thank you for an excellent summary of eve...Charles, Thank you for an excellent summary of events and issues associated with the Japanese disaster and the affected nuclear power plant. <br /><br />Your point that we must be brave and move our nuclear technology ahead is really good advice. We must address the issues of depleting of fossil fuels, over-population, and climate changed.<br /> <br /> Generation IV high temperature nuclear fission technology that has the potential to produce electricity cheaper than dirty coal and hydrogen for nitrogen fertilizer and synthetic liquid hydrocarbon fuels is needed. <br />The path that we follow must place trust science and technology. Our goal should be to develop affordable nuclear power and made it available to the third world so that they can industrialize and grow their economies. The solution to overpopulation is wealth. Nations with GDPs above $7500/capita have negative birthrates. Energy is equal to wealth. You have previously reported that nuclear power is an inexhaustible energy source. For our environment's sake and our economy's sake we need to embrace modern Ag (including genetically engineered organisms) and nuclear energy. To do otherwise will place our grandchildren in a world of mass starvation.<br /><br />I highly recommend this paper:<br />Viewpoint: We should stop running away from radiation By Wade Allison University of Oxford http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12860842<br />John TjostemAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597656451205429515.post-53019834632572301892011-03-29T09:22:24.869-05:002011-03-29T09:22:24.869-05:00I have just started reading blogs associated with ...I have just started reading blogs associated with nuclear power generation and appreciate all that I have learned in a few short weeks. <br /><br />You lose me when you praise the reactor design by stating it performed up to its specification. I understand you are using very precise language to make the point that the earthquake and resulting ocean wave exceeded the expected "accident design basis". <br /><br />I hope the nuclear power generation community will come to realize that, to most of the General Public, the purpose of the reactor is to prevent the release of ANY radiation and of ANY fission products to the environment under ANY circumstances.<br /><br />This is an extraordinary expectation. It is unfair that other industries and other sources of power generation are not held to the same standard. It may not be technically possible.<br /><br />I believe nuclear power will be embraced in the USA when one of the following occurs:<br />- continuous rolling blackouts [the lights don't turn on when you turn on the light switch]<br />- melting of the polar ice caps<br />- severe economic disadvantages due to high cost electricityTom Murphynoreply@blogger.com