[ RadSafe ] Overcoming America's nuclear power phobia

[Rick Orthen]

Tom,

Although I have a kernel of optimism about new construction, I agree with
your otherwise fateful assessment.  Well done.  I have this silly notion
that support for this won't turn the bend until the light switch at home
produces nothing.  In essence (and to kludge a familiar saying)--there are
no nuclear atheists in dark rooms.

Rick Orthen
-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf
Of Thomas Potter
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 5:11 PM
To: 'John Jacobus'; 'jjcohen'; 'Muckerheide, James';
mbrexchange at list.ans.org; radsafe at radlab.nl
Cc: rad-sci-l at wpi.edu
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] Overcoming America's nuclear power phobia

The way I see it is that we as a society have allowed ourselves to operate
this way because we have not really needed this technology.  We could afford
to dither.  If and when we clearly need the technology, a regulatory process
that will give the stakeholder voice without so easily yielding control will
be necessary.  (Some change in this direction is already occurring.)  If the
need for nuclear power technology becomes generally clear (it will never be
clear to the most vociferous opponents), such a change will be adopted
quickly.  Until then new nuclear plants will not be built.  This is a high
threshold for acceptance.  I doubt that any of the frequently mentioned
fixes--incentives, hormesis, systematic risk assessment, public relations
advertising, etc., will have much effect.

Tom Potter