Funds Dwindle To Dismantle Old Nuclear Plants 315
Hugh Pickens writes "The Associated Press reports that the companies who own almost half the nation's nuclear reactors are not setting aside enough money to dismantle the reactors, so many plants may sit idle for decades, posing safety and security risks as a result. The shortfalls in funding have been caused by huge losses in the stock market that have devastated the companies' savings and by the soaring costs of decommissioning. Owners of 19 nuclear plants have won approval to idle their reactors for as long as 60 years, presumably enough time to allow investments to recover and eventually pay for dismantling the plants and removing radioactive material. But mothballing nuclear reactors or shutting them down inadequately presents the risk that radioactive waste could leak from abandoned plants into ground water or be released into the air, and spent nuclear fuel rods could be stolen by terrorists. The NRC has contacted 18 nuclear power plants to clarify how the companies will address the recent economic downturn's effects on funds to decommission reactors in the future, but some analysts worry the utility companies that own nuclear plants might not even exist in six decades."
I know! (Score:4, Funny)
Why not let the government bail them out? That is what the government does, right?
There is an alternative... (Score:2, Funny)
Lease the plants, specifically the plant's basements. In an year or two the required payment will more than pay off the costs, proving be quite a substantial investment for everyone. While some will be quick to argue that such an act would leave the subterranean structures flooded with geeks oozing from radiation, the Army will soon discover that it has enough material to bottle up and send straight to Communist Russia.
Re:There is an alternative... (Score:1, Funny)
easy, just wait 10,000 years (Score:1, Funny)
and the problem will clean itself up
i just hope US citizens don't mind picking up the tab for 10,000 years its not as if they have choice (other than die from radiation poisoning or become a nation of horribly disfigured humans....lets hope obesity isn't a sign)
Re:You don't get better by not doing (Score:2, Funny)
of course the marina is popular. Everyone wants to catch a three-eyed fish once in their lives :D
Wind and solar even safer... (Score:2, Funny)
True, but nukes only get compared to coal on this basis. I never hear of any accidents involving solar or wind, and certainly no deaths.
Apparently some sheep have to move a few feet when they actually put the turbines up.
Re:From the perspective of a man who glows... (Score:3, Funny)
They let you put your hand in the secondary water in the cooling tower? That's horrendously reckless.
There could have been Legionella in there.