McCain: "by building 45 new nuclear plants, power plants, right away."

The last nuclear power plant to be brought on line in the States, I believe, was the one in Seabrook, New Hampshire. The process took over 10 years, and one of the two proposed units was never completed. The cost over-runs were massive and the electricity generated is still the most expensive supply option in the New England grid.

Now, I expect such plants would be less expensive to capitalize if they were brought on-line "right away." In fact, why not contract with the Russians to build them and save even more money, or the North Koreans? Who gives a squat for public safety as long as we achieve "energy independence"?

Some (insert your favorite epithet) environmentalist shellbacks would argue that uranium mining and reprocessing uranium fuel generate a lot of green house gas and environmental radioactive waste, and that storage of high-level spent nuclear fuel and other low-level radioactive wastes raise further questions about the viability of the nuclear power option. And there will always be the risk of a catastrophic accident sometime, somewhere.

However, even Obama is willing to review the nuclear option, although he did not clarify that during the debate. I respect his intelligence but remain skeptical of this option.

Charley Noble