James McKibben – Nuclear power is safest, cleanest, cheapest
According to an opinion piece published on TheState.com (South Carolina’s Home Page), James McKibben believes that Nuclear power is safest, cleanest and cheapest energy source.
I guess he is in the right job – his signed title is “Executive Director, Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness.
Here are some of his points – little argument from me, by the way.
- Nuclear power is far cleaner than any alternative way of making the large amounts of electricity that are needed.
- Thousands die worldwide every year in coal-mining accidents and natural gas fires and explosions, while the record at nuclear plants is zero.
- It is already cheaper than coal, oil or gas, and that advantage will grow because coal-burners will have to spend money to reduce emissions, and the price of natural gas will continue to rise, while nuclear plants are in a steep price decline.
My one point of contention is that it should be pretty obvious that the price of new nuclear power plants will be subject to some price increases as the bandwagon effect takes full hold.
Right now, the suppliers really want to sign up those first few orders since they have manufacturing, engineering and construction capacity that is not fully engaged. Once the orders start flowing, new customers will end up in a queue and the power balance between supply and demand will shift from the customers to the suppliers.
