Nuclear Power Play
After reading "Energy to Burn" [March 26-April 2], I was captured by Mortimer B. Zuckerman's lament over America's future because of our addiction to fossil fuels. But Zuckerman's pessimism is a bit overblown. There is no real reason why we cannot develop safe nuclear energy. Modern reactor designs are inherently safe, and nuclear wastes can be processed and stored in a safe manner, if we disregard the doomsday environmental groups decrying the efficacy of nuclear power. Safe fission reactors can be constructed using existing technologies while sustained, well-funded research would provide a new generation of fusion reactors that could come online by the latter half of this century. Computer modeling has dramatically increased the odds of producing a viable fusion reactor in the next decade. What could we expect if $100 billion to $200 billion were spent on this technology instead of wasted on a fruitless military campaign? But, alas, Zuckerman is probably correct. There is no national or political will to embark upon such a program. Millions of Americans are unwilling to give up their thirsty SUVs or even explore ways to make their homes more energy efficient.
DARRIN B. LEWER
Cypress, Texas
Zuckerman is right. We have an energy crisis, and our political system does not address it properly. Zuckerman, however, is wrong about nuclear power. The new generation of reactors on fast neutrons will produce more energy from uranium. The radioactive waste will be much smaller in volume and will not need to be sequestered for thousands of years because it will decay to safe levels in a few hundred years. Other benefits of a nuclear power plant include: It does not emit greenhouse and acid rain gases, and it does not create tons of toxic slag as coal-burning plants do. An abundance of electricity will allow production of hydrogen for fuel cells to power all sorts of vehicles, thus freeing us from being hostages to oil-exporting countries. Energy-independent America will be able to conduct foreign policy according to our interests.
YURI TUVIM
Gloucester, Mass.
Zuckerman's editorial about energy was informative, timely, and a bit frightening since it followed the cover feature about other countries and "How They Do It Better" than the United States. Our elected representatives are indeed responsible for our current problems, as you pointed out: "Our leaders would rather avoid the tough issues of fuel efficiency and higher taxes." They cannot, or will not, act to solve problems.
R. M. MILLS
Jacksonville, Fla.
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