Donald Williams: Look past the fears of nuclear power
American reactors have accumulated millions of worker hours of safe operation.

About two weeks ago, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held a public hearing to initiate a time for comments concerning the “Scope of an Environmental Review” associated with the possible restarting of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. It was held in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

It seems to me that the news media reports of the NRC’s meeting of Thursday, July 11, emphasized the fears associated with nuclear power. Fear sells well and easily. Instead, I write to provide context. I hope that the “scope” of the NRC- required review includes the range of facts that I present here.
The important word “environment” calls me to consider context, namely, is there a better alternative to nuclear power? Every method that is currently used to generate electricity has a downside. Here are a few:
- Coal ash is toxic and radioactive.
- Gas can burn explosively and always contributes to global warming.
- Windmills fall in tornadoes, kill birds, their reflections produce seizures for some people and their blades do not recycle well.
- Solar panels have limited lifetimes, include toxic substances and are inefficient.
- Dams are not very effective during a drought.
The list for each example could go on and on. That is why no thoughtful person seeks a single source of electrical power.
I believe that good ecology calls for diversity and nuclear power belongs in the mix. Its radioactive waste seems to bother some folks the most. It is dangerous but, comparatively, very, very small in volume. Furthermore, other countries are making giant strides in isolating it — Finland for example.
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In particular, the Palisades Power Plant is not located in a seismically active zone nor is it likely to experience a hurricane or tsunami. It has an inherently safer design than that of old Russian reactors and it has more experienced operators than those at Three Mile Island (where, by the way, no one was physically injured).
Yes, nuclear power plants call for a well-educated and trained staff. That and careful regulation explain why American reactors have accumulated millions of worker hours of safe operation. The service record of the Palisades Plant indicates a steady progression of improved performance. It has not harmed its immediate environment over the 40-plus years of its existence, yet kept our lights lit.
— Donald H. Williams, Ph.D., can be reached at willliams@hope.edu.
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