France leads the world in using nuclear power for generating electricity. Eighty percent of its needs come from nuclear plants. As a result of an all-out attack on nuclear power-generation by a combination of environmentalists and nervous plant neighbors in the Seventies, the U.S. has had a nuclear aversion. We generate only 20 percent of our electricity needs from this no-emissions, non-polluting source.

With world energy demands growing for transportation, manufacturing and people’s daily needs, nuclear is getting a second look in this country. Advances in technology mean smaller, more efficient plants with stronger-then-ever safety systems. Some environmentalists are part of the “second look” approach. Sen. Obama says it should be “part of the mix.” Sen. McCain is more explicit. He sees 100 new plants in the nation’s future, with 45 of them to be built by 2030. An executive of the Nuclear Energy Institute is skeptical that number can be built by then, estimating that eight to 10 new plants is more likely. In any case, new plants will need government assistance in the form of loan guarantees or outright subsidies. Solar and wind energy installations already get hefty subsidies.

Waste disposal remains the main problem. Spent fuel is now stored at nuclear plant sites. There has never been an accident with these stored materials; however, the federal government has long sought a central location for them. After much study, it settled on vaults deep in Yucca Mountain in the Nevada desert. No sooner was it ready to receive shipments than the “neighbors” (read Las Vegas businesses, residents and Nevada politicians such as Sen. Harry Reid) said, “Not in my backyard.” They claimed that an earthquake might shake the depository loose and contaminate water supplies. They demanded yet more studies. Their arguments are specious. An earthquake of the magnitude needed to alter the geology of the depository would have to be so great that it would knock down most Las Vegas high-rise buildings and residential neighborhoods.

The sooner we put that NIMBY mentality aside and get nuclear power actively in the energy “mix” the sooner we make a significant dent in “greenhouse” gasses and pollution.