OPINION:
We have to reduce carbon emissions to address global warming. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power can provide only about 20% of our power requirements.
To meet the energy needs of the eastern U.S., we would need 100,000 square miles of solar panels (that’s the size of New England) or 800,000 square miles of windmills (the size of Alaska and California).
As a former scientist and engineer, I believe the solution could be the construction of small nuclear power units linked together. A drawback to nuclear power has been previous accidents. The Chernobyl plant accident was due to shoddy construction and mismanagement, and the Three Mile Island partial meltdown was due to inadequate operator training.
Another drawback has been the high cost of building large nuclear power plants.
Kairos Power is testing a small, affordable nuclear power unit in New Mexico. It is only 16 feet tall and could be housed in a small building. It uses molten fluoride salt to cool the reactor.
If there is a cut to the power for the cooling system and a failure of safety systems, the reactor will not melt down.
Nuclear power plants produce a minimal amount of spent fuel, which is then safely stored in sealed and monitored casks at the plant sites. The use of deep drilling to create horizontal bore holes could provide permanent storage facilities.
The future of our planet could rely on the replacement of fossil fuel power plants with nuclear power systems.
DONALD MOSKOWITZ
Londonderry, New Hampshire
Please read our comment policy before commenting.