Here is a change idea from John McCain.John McCain has proposed that we should build 45 new nuclear power plants now and up to 100 new plants total.
McCain’s reasoning is that nuclear power would give us a clean source of energy. No emissions.
We should applaud McCain on the realization that we need more power and that cars of the future will be powered by electricity. His use of nuclear power will have zero carbon emissions. From my readings France has already gone the route of having nuclear power be their main source of energy. So the idea is feasible.
However, I have reservations about nuclear energy:
1) The cost to decommission a nuclear power plant is prohibitive. So far that cost has not been in any electric bill. When the cost of electricity doubles because of those costs, people will want to hang the regulators that did not allow those costs to be spread over the life of the plant. And/or the politician that put us on the course of nuclear power.
2) America still has no plan to dispose of nuclear waste.
3) Our nuclear power plants are not well protected now from terrorists, why would having 100 more be safer?
4) Companies are always trying to cut costs. This is not a plan that can fall into that mentality. My electricity company has been fined for not doing what they were supposed to do regarding training and maintenance.
If you all have ideas for change of your own, please post them.
2 comments:
The reactor technology in the West has improved dramatically in the last 20 years, according to one of my friends whose father works as a reactor designer. However, nuclear still isn't cost effective without heavy subsidies.
The bottom line depends on how seriously one takes man-made global warming. If we're really in a crisis of Apocalyptic proportions, then subsidizing nuclear definitely is preferable to the coal fired plants, even considering waste disposal.
On another note, here are five changes off the top of my head:
1) Set the corporate tax rate to 0%.
2) End compulsory unionism, especially in education.
3) Pass the free trade agreement with Columbia
4) End all ethanol subsidies.
5) On health savings accounts:
5a) eliminate the health insurance requirement
5b) remove the contribution limits that prohibit employers from depositing the full value of benefits directly into an HSA.
Feel free to steal them at will!
The corporate tax rate has been lowered and the economy is not any better. Companies have already moved their accounts overseas and have no reason to have any work done here.
In Illinois there is not compulsory unionism.
We have all the drugs we need from Columbia.
Ethanol subsidies should be eliminated because the cost of oil is high enough that subsidies are no longer needed.
HSA's are managed by each individual company for a cost. It is a benefit that does not have to be provided.
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