Most nuclear power we have today was designed as a bomb factory (or derived from that design). The power output was almost an afterthought.
There are a lot of newer designs that are a massive improvements on the old. Some “eat” the radioactive waste of older plants. Other use pathways that don’t produce long term nuclear waste. They also don’t produce material suitable for atomic weapons.
Unfortunately, the anti-nuclear movement kicked in just as those designs were set to enter construction. We’ve lost decades of improvements that they should have gained. Even worse, a lot of the engineers have now retired or passed. It will take a decade or 2 to rebuild the knowledge base to suitable levels.
Basically, nuclear could be incredibly clean and safe. Short sited governments, and knee jerk reactions killed it. It should be part of the solution, but it’s now likely too late to bring it back in at the levels required.
Most nuclear power we have today was designed as a bomb factory (or derived from that design). The power output was almost an afterthought.
There are a lot of newer designs that are a massive improvements on the old. Some “eat” the radioactive waste of older plants. Other use pathways that don’t produce long term nuclear waste. They also don’t produce material suitable for atomic weapons.
Unfortunately, the anti-nuclear movement kicked in just as those designs were set to enter construction. We’ve lost decades of improvements that they should have gained. Even worse, a lot of the engineers have now retired or passed. It will take a decade or 2 to rebuild the knowledge base to suitable levels.
Basically, nuclear could be incredibly clean and safe. Short sited governments, and knee jerk reactions killed it. It should be part of the solution, but it’s now likely too late to bring it back in at the levels required.