End of the nuclear option as a viable energy source - opinion

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@ix.netcom.com>]

Hypothesis: The nuclear option will become less of a viable source of 
energy - in the USA.

What made the nuclear option such an expected option for a never 
ending source of energy? It was cheap, reliable and was managed by 
and worked by a well-trained, dedicated, knowlegable and idealistic 
group of workers. These workers expected that their hard work would 
be recognized, provide a needed resource that benefited the 
communities in which they lived, and in turn, they too would benefit 
and prosper. The American dream at its finest. It was the supply and 
demand for an independent energy supply. So what happened?

For the past 10 years the nuclear energy workforce has given way to 
serious reductions, all in the name of competition, at the same time 
the Presidents and CEOs of these companys were seeing their 
compensation rising into the millions!!!  We were told we need to 
cut, to remain viable. The "we" didn't include "them"... and their 
compensation and perks escalated to levels matching celebrity status 
and sports levels. But the workforce continued to be cut.

While downsizing is never a pleasant experience (I can personally 
attest to that) it used to be that the company at least gave the word 
that cuts were imminent, and, when they would take place. The 
workforce focused on these cuts for awhile, and work was diminished, 
but there was a finite end. The cuts came, and work again commenced. 
But the end never came, the cuts continued, and more and workers 
only focused on, when would the next round of cuts begin. At the same 
time, utility profits rose, and shareholders loved the increases, and 
there were more calls for austerity. Profit built upon greed.

Now it is the norm for NOT announcing downsizing, saying only that 
there will be cuts from time to time, as the workforce is evaluated. 
The utility business has now resorted to "GESTAPO" tactics, whereby 
an individual is approached during the day, told their job has now 
been eliminated, and they are escorted off the premises. This is not 
Argentina, Chile or Algeria. This is the utility philosophy practiced 
every day in the good old USA. This happened again this past friday 
at my old haunt, Florida Power and Light. This time it was a group of 
Managers .. not the line workers. Probably since they don't have 
enough line workers anymore. So, what is the net result of this, and, 
what does this hold for the future?

It means that safety will ultimately be affected. To be safe in the 
workplace, which in this case will ultimately affect the population 
around the facility, there needs to be a workforce that is focused on 
doing their job "RIGHT" and "CORRECTLY" all the time. They need to 
remain focused on what consequences will arise if they "screw up"!!! 
The problem today is, the worker is NOT focused on doing their jobs. 
They are preoccupied with whether or not the next "gestapo" raid will 
snare them. They are thinking about earning an income, and if they 
are "cut" will they find a job in a market that is now at its lowest 
levels. Compare the HPS Newsletter Job Placement pages of yesterday 
with the one or two jobs posted today. No, the workforce is running 
scared, and, safety will suffer. Need evidence? Commonwealth Edison, 
Northeast utilities, Florida Power Corportaion, Illinois Electric, 
etc. The list can go on and on.

It used to be that the push was life extension of the license beyond 
40 years. Many did that. Reality ..... the plants aren't even 
approaching a 40 year life!!!  NO new plants being planned or built. 
Plants are shutting down left and right. The BIG question? Where will 
the energy come from in a few years? Is anybody asking this question, 
and thinking about this? Time is running out. We are losing a viable 
workforce of professional health physicists, engineers, physicists 
and others. Those that are not being cut are looking to get out, 
making new career choices. These jobs lost can not be made up or 
mitigated. Does anybody really care?

------------------
Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
Fax:    (714) 668-3149
  
sandyfl@ix.netcom.com
sperle@icnpharm.com

Personal Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205

ICN Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com

"The object of opening the mind, as of opening 
the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
              - G. K. Chesterton -