Nuclear Power and Electricity

Tom McClintock (Ventura County Perspective, April 29, 2001) is trying to sell us that old snake oil, nuclear power, as the only solution to our electricity crisis.

For sake of argument, let’s accept Mr. McClintock’s premise that nuclear power can be cheap, clean, safe and abundant. It would still be the wrong way to go. Nuclear power plants are too large, too centralized. When a nuclear plant goes down, megawatts are taken off line all at once. The best solution is for us to develop a diverse system of small generators, conventional and renewable, owned by municipalities and small private companies. And Tom, if nuclear power is so cheap, why have we ratepayers been saddled with their stranded costs?

Maitland B. Alexander

Thousand Oaks