Saturday, July 30, 2005
New Nukes! New Nukes! New Nukes!
Polistra hasn't been seen 'in these columns' for a little while. After the London bombing she went back to the Mill to calm down. Looks like she's been busy, though....
The Congress has been busy as well, giving us a Return to Nukes which will make far more difference in the long run than a Return to Flight. The Energy bill does several things:
Revives a program for nuclear fuel reprocessing, which was killed after Three Mile Island. Long overdue.
Pushes education of nuke engineers, including a fellowship and internship arrangement for two-way interaction between the national labs and the academics.
Revises the Price-Anderson Act, dealing with liability of nuke plant operators. Enlarges the limits and adds inflation adjustment.
Section 641 is the big one. Idaho National Engineering Lab (INEL) will be developing a new prototype reactor aimed at commercial use, to directly generate hydrogen for auto fuel as well as electricity.
Includes some subtle but important changes in regulation of hydroelectric dams, making it harder for the enemy's Environmentalist Regiment to block new or improved power generation.
After 30 years of letting dark superstition and OPEC rule us, we're finally taking a giant official step back toward science and independence.
Barring unforeseen developments on other fronts, I think this will be the Bush Administration's biggest domestic legacy. ¶ 7:29 AM
The Congress has been busy as well, giving us a Return to Nukes which will make far more difference in the long run than a Return to Flight. The Energy bill does several things:
Revives a program for nuclear fuel reprocessing, which was killed after Three Mile Island. Long overdue.
Pushes education of nuke engineers, including a fellowship and internship arrangement for two-way interaction between the national labs and the academics.
Revises the Price-Anderson Act, dealing with liability of nuke plant operators. Enlarges the limits and adds inflation adjustment.
Section 641 is the big one. Idaho National Engineering Lab (INEL) will be developing a new prototype reactor aimed at commercial use, to directly generate hydrogen for auto fuel as well as electricity.
Includes some subtle but important changes in regulation of hydroelectric dams, making it harder for the enemy's Environmentalist Regiment to block new or improved power generation.
After 30 years of letting dark superstition and OPEC rule us, we're finally taking a giant official step back toward science and independence.
Barring unforeseen developments on other fronts, I think this will be the Bush Administration's biggest domestic legacy. ¶ 7:29 AM
