America should not be afraid of nuclear power

As if the biggest earthquake in the history of the country and a massive tsunami that ensued was not bad enough, Japan is still frantically trying to stop a nuclear meltdown at one of their nuclear power plant that was damaged due to the earthquake. It would be like pouring salt on a a really bad wound if that power plant implodes and harmful radiation spreads like it did when Chernobyl had it's down similar disaster many moons ago. 

But engineers knew the risk of nuclear power plants. Hence there were safety measures put in, and fail safes also. But then again, they probably did not think at that time an earthquake as massive as the one that just hit would ever happen. See the nuclear power plant they have over there was relatively old, and supposedly the newer the power plant, the more safe it is since safety technology has been improving consistently over time (as well they should have). 

I just hope engineers over in Japan can avert the crisis, as I think even something even at a quarter of the scale of Chernobyl was to happen, we here in the US can kiss nuclear energy goodbye. 

Sure nuclear meltdowns are terrible tragedies, and radiation can do some damage to a human body. But name me a significant energy source that is 100 percent clean and environmentally friendly? As with anything there are risk attached to it. I don't see how some people in the political arena can even argue against nuclear power, and using the case of Japan as evidence. The German people are even tell their government to shut down their perfectly fine plants. And where do you suppose the country should get its energy, oil?

Lest we forget, oil is responsible for some or the worse man made disasters ever. Last time I check, the BP oil spill happened just this past year, and of course the poster boy for environmental disasters - the Exxon Valdez. So politicians if you are going to harp on about the safety of alternatives other than nuclear, I really don't think you have a case (clean coal is an absolute oxymoron - you hear that CHINA?). And I thought we are trying to lower our dependence on foreign oil? You know, be self sustaining in terms of our energy needs? Might not happen with the automobile, but I am pretty sure powering the grid (TRON reference) should be left to our own. 

Nuclear is the next frontier of clean power, and it is time US joins the rest of the world (not you Saudi Arabia, you should worry about an uprising first) and embrace nuclear full steam. If all the safety technology is implemented, it should be plenty safe. I just don't understand how the government can be so apprehensive about it. Every kind of energy solution has its potential problems (plane flies over field of solar panels, gets incinerated by the reflection, but of course this is conjecture). Oil can spill, miners can get stuck in mines, and etc. I mean according to the game Sim City, short of leverage the powers of nuclear fusion, current nuclear power plants are some of the safest, least polluting, and most power generating type of plant on the planet. There is no reason the US should not be using it fully.

Disasters happens. What can you do but try to prevent the heck out of it. But mother nature is unpredictable, and hence you should not be scared by it. Did people of New Orleans move its city north just because of the Hurricane and the fact their city STILL lies beneath sea level? Since when did US drop its balls and not willing to live with the risk when the benefit FAR and FAR outweighs it (hello off shore drilling). Unless there is some treasure trove of oil that rivals the combined might of the OPEC countries, US is going have to start looking at adding more nuclear power plants. Lest we have to invade another sovereign country, accuse them of harboring weapons of mass destruction, and the plunder their oil (which is not true, for pretty much the war in iraq was a just massive display of nothing - and so many died, its a shame). 

Its is energy - the whole world runs on it. With the rise of China and other fast developing countries, it is appearing more crowded in this zero sum game. Stop using Japan's nuclear nightmare as an excuse to deter the US from using nuclear power. Besides, relatively speaking the US is not that densely populated hence the energy department should have no problem finding a suitable site far away from civilization to build nuclear power plants.

Nuclear power is the answer to the US's energy problem. No oil need to be spill, no miners will die a horrible death, and of course fail safe the hell out of the plant. What is happening in Japan is horrible yes, but no one could have predicted such natural catastrophe. Engineer says new nuclear power plants are built to withstand such earthquakes, so I don't think it should be a deterrent at all. I mean, I am not going back to rubbing two sticks together. 

Oil, and the automotive energy future

Other than certain Arabian countries where the oil is from, we here in the United States of America enjoy some of the cheapest gasoline prices in the world (tell it to a British bloke next time you complain about your gasoline being over over 3 dollars, or rather, a San Franciscan). It is in a large part due to the unwillingness of the Government to tax it at the rate Europeans are used to (imagine all the money the US can earn). But markets are markets after all and a couple of weeks ago the price of oil (re)crossed the $100 dollar mark, hence gas prices have gone up lately.

Economist predicts that it will only get worst throughout the year. Of course I am unhappy about the gas price (even though it is aforementioned, relatively cheap). Even though I drive a small and absurdly fuel efficient car (for a non hybrid anyways), those extra dollars at the pump adds up over the year (just like cell phone bills - compound your monthly bill into a yearly and be shocked much you are forking over). I even switch from the better Chevron gas to the cheapest (in price) around: Costco! Thank heavens I share membership with my father and I also do credit banking with American Express. Even driving a little out of my way just to get to a Costco is worth it. 

On the other side of the coin I kind of wish gas prices continue to go up? I think America is in need of a shock with regards to the price paid for oil. As long as it is still on par with a gallon of milk, no one here will bat an eyelash and evaluate the alternatives. It takes almost alarm level for Americans to act (being pro active definitely not in the vocabulary). 

Remember a couple of years ago when gas was way over one hundred a barrel and gas prices in the US was threatening the four dollar mark? That was when people sort of woke up. Instead of buying large gas guzzlers, people started looking for smaller and more fuel efficient cars. Instead of driving that giant truck and never haul anything, people bought automobiles that actually FIT their lifestyle. Automakers, even though it is partially marketing spin, vowed to research and develop fuel efficient technologies so that the masses will not be encumbered with the high gas cost (some of the fruits of that labor is slowing but surely trickling down into the automotive market today with hybrids and diesels). 

I think America is really for a European like renaissance in terms of the automobile market. Everybody will only buy the car they need (which most of the time means small), and car makers will make cars that are as fuel efficient as possible (before the gas price scare the motto was as big as possible). It is just a shame that it will take another gas price scare (and probably permanent) for this change to come. This is not to say that high performance or large vehicles won't exist. Those types of cars will still exist for those who can not only afford them, but also put gasoline in them. I would think twice about getting a 2 ton truck just to daily drive to and from work if it takes over one hundred dollars just to fill it up with gas. 

To go further, I am a big fan of electric cars, which like it or not is clearly the future, whether be it by batteries or hydrogen. People need to remember that the internal combustion engine is highly inefficient - only one out of the four strokes provides the motivation power. With electricity powering the cars it can be as efficient as needed because technology in terms of power delivery and power production can be managed. Meaning this does not preclude high performance and fast electric cars (the Tesla Roadster anyone?). Again, I think a gas price crisis will scare the government and automakers to push for electric cars on a faster tract than it is now. 

But for the foreseeable future, I think gas prices will stay at a elevated level, and automakers for the time being will try to build cars that are as light and fuel efficient as possible. Technology is available, and I think automakers should leverage as much of it as possible instead of staying with the status quo just because it "sells". The reason Apple stays ahead of the growth curve amongst consumer electronic and PC makers is because they are always thinking of what is next and using the latest and greatest technology. Carmakers should do the same. 

Cannot say I am not happy about getting 32mpg average in my corolla. Guess I will be keeping it for awhile. Faster cars can wait until I have money for gas.