Quote:
Originally Posted by finnbow
I would not disagree at all with your assessment of nuclear energy (I worked in that industry for ~20 years), but for the apparent death of the repository at Yucca Mountain (upon which I consulted for several years). Now, we have no capacity (or even a plan) to deal with used fuel rods from nuclear plants beyond on-site storage. The US government took untold billions from the nuclear industry for studies and construction of a repository, but now we're back to square one even if the studies and construction at Yucca Mountain are largely complete.
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I wonder why we do not reprocess spent nuclear fuel rods other than for economic reasons. India does this, so does Russia, Japan and China if my information is correct.
Storing is perhaps the cheapest option, put the rods in a lead casket, bury them deep underground and monitor the environment. But then politicians and citizens are suspicious of scientists and rightfully so. As a matter of civil engineering, this should be easier than digging a chunnel under a river or a bay.
