I am rather concerned about the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Energy Future. In the first Terminator movie the future of the world is dependent on an advancement in robotic technology and it causes the survivors of near annihilation from robot forces to travel back in time to prevent the fateful moment from happening. I can’t say enough about how important the results of the commission will be. A lot of weight is on their shoulders.
The polls that test support for nuclear are better than previous years but the recent Fukushima incident has caused the antinuclear people to apply more pressure. What will be the fateful moment and what announcement would be so important to the future survival of the planet? It may be the report as a whole that makes a difference and how heavily it weighs in favor of Thorium Molten Salt Reactors and in favor of a push for regulatory reform. My whole two years as a pronuclear blogger feels put on hold in anticipation of their report.
Just like the US government seems blind to their overspending and misplaced rhetoric the nuclear industry will possibly lose their chance to save the planet from drastic climate change and perhaps the point of no return if the BRC does not do their job. If they are somehow motivated by corporate forces or desire for personal gain the outcome could be very serious. If they submit to pressure because of the history behind the closing of Yucca Mountain or the Fukushima incident it would be tragic.
It’s true that China has started their pursuit of the TFMSR which will be their version of a TMSR or LFTR. There is no guaranty they will succeed.
So BRC members please seriously consider the benefits and potential of this very promising technology which has been ignored for far too long.
Read the plan laid out by Kirk Sorensen and his fellow pro LFTR community.
http://energyfromthorium.com/plan/
Below is from the DOE website http://www.energy.gov/news/8698.htm
Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future Charter
The Secretary of Energy, acting at the direction of the President, is establishing the Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of policies for managing the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, including all alternatives for the storage, processing, and disposal of civilian and defense used nuclear fuel, high-level waste, and materials derived from nuclear activities. Specifically, the Commission will provide advice, evaluate alternatives, and make recommendations for a new plan to address these issues, including:
- Evaluation of existing fuel cycle technologies and R&D programs. Criteria for evaluation should include cost, safety, resource utilization and sustainability, and the promotion of nuclear nonproliferation and counter-terrorism goals.
- Options for safe storage of used nuclear fuel while final disposition pathways are selected and deployed;
- Options for permanent disposal of used fuel and/or high-level nuclear waste, including deep geological disposal;
- Options to make legal and commercial arrangements for the management of used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste in a manner that takes the current and potential full fuel cycles into account;
- Options for decision-making processes for management and disposal that are flexible, adaptive, and responsive;
- Options to ensure that decisions on management of used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste are open and transparent, with broad participation;
- The possible need for additional legislation or amendments to existing laws, including the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended; and
- Any such additional matters as the Secretary determines to be appropriate for consideration.
Review the Advisory Committee Charter (pdf – 56kb)
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