A week ago, there were 55 nuclear power plants in Japan, yet they provided only 30% or so of that country's energy needs.
Now there are 53 nuclear power plants...subtracting the two where backup systems failed following the massive earthquake. The NY Times reports that the sea water being used to prevent a meltdown has likely destroyed the plants for the foreseeable future.
When I went to the World's Fair in New York in 1964, I was amazed by the prediction that nuclear plants were going to produce power so cheap that it would not be worth the effort to collect money from customers. That was before the days when marketing experts made industries underpromise and overdeliver, I suppose.
The Times report today suggests the events in Japan are far from over, though if you look back at the statements from Japanese officials yesterday, it appeared everything was under control and there was little danger. Then one of the reactor buildings exploded, and now who knows what's coming next.
There are two new nuclear plants in Japan that are under construction and eleven more are in the planning stages.
The World Nuclear Association's web page has a page that discusses how safe the plants are, and how little danger there is from earthquakes and tsunamis. I'd guess it's update time.
[UPDATE: What can I say but wow. That was one heck of an earthquake.]
[UPDATE: In an earlier post, I suggested support for nuclear power in the U.S. might drop following the continuing problems in Japen. Now support is dropping.]
Now there are 53 nuclear power plants...subtracting the two where backup systems failed following the massive earthquake. The NY Times reports that the sea water being used to prevent a meltdown has likely destroyed the plants for the foreseeable future.
The Times report today suggests the events in Japan are far from over, though if you look back at the statements from Japanese officials yesterday, it appeared everything was under control and there was little danger. Then one of the reactor buildings exploded, and now who knows what's coming next.
There are two new nuclear plants in Japan that are under construction and eleven more are in the planning stages.
The World Nuclear Association's web page has a page that discusses how safe the plants are, and how little danger there is from earthquakes and tsunamis. I'd guess it's update time.
[UPDATE: What can I say but wow. That was one heck of an earthquake.]
[UPDATE: In an earlier post, I suggested support for nuclear power in the U.S. might drop following the continuing problems in Japen. Now support is dropping.]
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