Will Nuclear Power Thaw the Icy Climate Bill Deadlock?
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| Photo by Alex Wong, Getty Images |
In the debate over the current "cap and trade" legislation (or 'Cap'n Trade' as Jon Stewart calls it) that's currently getting kicked around in the Senate chambers, one particular compromise just keeps rearing its controversial little head: Nuclear Energy.
In fact, reports are coming in that Republicans like Lindsay Graham are angling to add language to the climate bill that puts nuclear energy on par with wind or solar power. So, the question now becomes: Are lobbyists, lawmakers and their constituents really ready to play "Let's Make a Deal?"
Up until this point in the debate, it's been easy to avoid that critical nuclear gut check. Now, environmentally aware readers, is the time to decide whether Cap and Trade legislation is worth the compromises it might require to pass.
According to the bill's primary sponsor, John Kerry, all ideas are still on the table. Says Kerry:
"We're going to work in a bona fide way with everybody to see how to bridge a gap here. We've got to get a 60-vote margin. That means you've got to legislate, which means you have to compromise."We're pretty much all aware of the downsides associated with nuclear energy: contamination, risk of accidents, waste disposal ... need I go on? Aside from the obvious reasons for opposing nuclear energy (Chernobyl), one of the strongest cases against it is logistics. Nuclear power plants are mucho expensive and the don't exactly pop up overnight.
Still, there are some potential benefits that could make the issue a little more palatable for weekend eco-warriors. First off, we already have it. Nuclear energy makes up about 20% of our current energy production. Second, nuclear energy creates substantially lower greenhouse emissions per KWh.
Third, there's a conservationist angle a here as well in the form of a concept known as "energy sprawl." If you've ever driven by a wind farm, you've probably had the same reaction that I did the first time I saw one: 'Whoa, that's freakin' big.'
According to a study by the Nature Conservancy, the areas affected by biofuel and renewable energy production (especially wind) in 2030 could make up a landmass larger than the state of Nebraska. So, that's not exactly ideal either.
How comfortable are you with the idea of a nuclear-powered future? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below.
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