Science Magazine publishes letter from ANS Past-President
ANS Past-President Alan Waltar and ANS member Ted Besmann collaborated on a letter to the editor of SCIENCE magazine on the topic of future supplies of electricity and the importance of nuclear power. The letter appeard in the March 17, 2000 issue.
Science Magazine
1200 New York Ave. NW
Washington DC 20005
To the Editor:
Philip Abelson's editorial on "Future Supplies of Electricity" (Feb. 11) makes important points about next generation sources, but falls short in dealing with the world as it currently exists. There are substantial electricity resources in the form of nuclear power plants and hydroelectric generation that produce no carbon dioxide or air pollution. In fact, U.S. nuclear plants have increased their output over the last several years such that this increase alone constitutes the largest industrial contribution to reduced CO2 emissions.
The non-fossil fuel power sources are, however, in jeopardy. The demands for electric utilities to increase short-term profits in a de-regulated electricity market and the failure of the federal government to make forward progress on accepting spent nuclear fuel from commercial reactors are pressuring nuclear plant owners to sell or shut-down their facilities. There are even current plans to dismantle some hydroelectric dams in the name of "environmental restoration." Today, the fuel of choice for replacing the electricity supplies that would be lost is natural gas. While better than coal or oil, it is still a fossil fuel, which generates ozone, nitrogen and sulfur oxides, and CO2.
It will be of little use to develop new energy sources for the long-term when we cannot maintain existing sources that generate no CO2 or pollutants. Any successful energy policy needs to preserve current resources that meet environmental goals as well as plan for future technologies.
Sincerely,
Alan E. Waltar
Professor and Head, Nuclear Engineering
