Raising more questions about St Vrain: rod storage

Why are the still very viable nuclear rods still stored in the former Colorado St. Vrain nuclear power plant? A report on local TV news showed their picture last night. The answer points to a bigger question: How and where do you dispose of nuclear waste? Yucca Mountian controversy is a NYMBY...no one wants them in their back yard...especially where fault lines run through the burial sites. On site nuclear waste has been involved in the Japanese nuclear disaster and the issue of nuclear storage is being raised again in Washington.

I am not opposed to nuclear power; I understand its advantages as a more environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels   I only want use of nuclear energy done safely and nuclear power advocates and regulatory agencies have a history of not being forthcoming.  While we have not had any major accidents since Three Mile Island and gas and oil drilling and coal all have their risks and potential of environmental damage, that still is no excuse to improve safety and to mitigate the threat of  damage as much as we can. The disposal of storage of nuclear waste is a problem that  must be resolved.

The current controversy over fracking to spring loose natural gas is a case in point of how these energy/environmental issues become politicized. I do believe natural gas is the intermediate fuel of choice provided using it is not a substitute for the necessary goal of establishing solar and wind as our ultimate energy source as soon as possible.  Both gas and solar/wind are the least environmentally damaging and the most safe. Both are abundant and would get us off dependency on foreign oil and the consequences of  our foreign policy decisions regarding the Middle East being controlled by our reliance so heavily on their oil. Much of the cause of jihadist terrorism can be traced to angry reactions toward  US policy of supporting oppressive governments to insure our continued supply.

 However, drilling for gas is still a threat to the pristine Colorado mountain areas and we should insist that  other areas less fragile should be exploited first.  Our Colorado economy is heavily dependent on eco tourism, hunting and beauty. Economics speaking: we need a responsible policy that balances these two competing economic generators. Besides, we as humans have a responsibility to be wise stewards of a beautiful state. After all, that is why so many of us live here: the unspoiled beauty of the place. We must not foul our own nest.

Somehow or other, these energy vs environment vs safetyvs economic issues tend to end up as political footballs and self serving industry spins.  Decisions should be about  science and engineering; not about political  or industry advocacy. Given the tendency of every issue to end up in some sort of partisan debate, perhaps that is just expecting too much.