Last week, I mentioned how Nuclear energy is gaining popularity in the wake of greenhouse gas emissions affecting climate change. But no matter how many arguments and case studies you read on the benefits of nuclear power, a pesky problem remains: waste disposal. Without a doubt, the most successful nuclear energy program in existence today is in France. The French LOVE nuclear power. They derive 80% of their energy from 56 nuclear reactors sprinkled throughout the French countryside. France satisfies all their energy needs and then some -- even exporting electricity to other European countries. And it seems this energy model is being adopted throughout the EU continent. Finland, Hungry, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the UK, are considering (or already making plans) to become independent in their energy needs by switching to nuclear power.
But here comes that problem - the French are still grappling with the best way to handle the hazardous waste. There are riots. No one wants their backyard to be the nuclear waste dump of the country. And we see a similar fight in the U.S. Being a native Nevadan, just mentioning the word “waste” ruffles my feathers, let alone when it’s nuclear waste. Yucca Mountain in Nevada has been America’s dumping ground for years, including highly reactive and hazardous waste. Yet, the majority of power use resides on the East Coast. Why should New Yorkers get the benefit of electricity from nuclear reactors, and Nevada have to deal with the waste? It’s hardly a fair trade-off. Nuclear waste is an enormously difficult political problem – a problem that no country has solved. Even France – the Pro-Nuke Poster Child – agrees that their uniquely “successful” program will go down in defeat if they don’t find a solution to their long-term hazardous waste management issues.
by
Erin Swanson ESwanson@enviance.com | 
