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Atomic Insights

Atomic energy technology, politics, and perceptions from a nuclear energy insider who served as a US nuclear submarine engineer officer

Rockwell Tells Lamar Alexander – You Can Store Used Nuclear Fuel Safely Almost Anywhere for 100 Years (Or More)

June 25, 2009 By Rod Adams

On June 22, 2009, the Senate Republican Conference hosted a hearing on their idea of enabling the construction of 100 new nuclear power plants during the next 20 years. (Yes, I claim to be a liberal, but my view of the term includes the ability to liberally accept good ideas no matter which side of some kind of mythical aisle they come from. I am no “party animal”.)

One of my long time heroes, Ted Rockwell, stole the show and conducted school on many topics during the session. Here is his response to Senator Alexander’s question about safely storing used nuclear fuel. I love the crowd reaction at the end – he elicited a very nice smile from an audience member who seemed to be trying to keep a straight face.

Ted’s response is one that you have read here on several occasions, and it is one that is gaining increasing traction with technically minded people like NNadir, the infamously grouchy chemist who posts great diaries on Daily Kos about the value of the by-products of atomic fission. That material is simply too valuable to bury it underground. It is a terrible waste of money to spend billions to do something that people in the future will want to pay additional billions to undo.

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About Rod Adams

Rod Adams is an atomic energy expert with small nuclear plant operating and design experience, now serving as a Managing Partner at Nucleation Capital, an emerging climate-focused fund. Rod, a former submarine Engineer Officer and founder of Adams Atomic Engines, Inc., one of the earliest advanced nuclear ventures, has engaged in technical, strategic, political, historic and financial discussion and analysis of the nuclear industry, its technology and policies for several decades. He is the founder of Atomic Insights and host and producer of The Atomic Show Podcast.

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