While ethanol, biodiesel, wind, solar, thermal and other renewable sources of energy must remain high on the nation's "want" list for the future, nuclear energy is a viable alternative for both power sufficiency and bringing down levels of "greenhouse gases."
It is clear that an expanding economy requires - and will continue to require - ever more energy, much of which will come from foreign oil and be supplemented by whatever alternative power sources are found to be cheap, reliable and conducive to meeting the nation's ever-growing needs.
Then there is the greenhouse question that will revive the political and scientific debates over global warming and whether Washington should sign on to the Kyoto Protocol to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
It may be the latter that actually drives the development of new nuclear plants the fastest. At least that was the assessment three years ago by William H. Miller, professor in the Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute at the University of Missouri - Columbia. Nuclear power would be an efficient method - assuming a policy shift in Congress on the Kyoto accord - of reducing carbon-dioxide emissions that, according to some, are causing a hole in the Earth's ozone layer and threatening global warming.
Nuclear energy seems a logical and effective method of meeting both rising energy demands and reducing the production of carbon dioxide. It is clean and safe, despite the Three Mile Island scare in 1979 and the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
Nuclear energy provides about 20 percent of the nation's generating capacity with more than 100 nuclear plants, including Callaway near Fulton in Missouri and Wolf Creek near Emporia in Kansas. But the United States is a piker compared to France, which relies on nuclear energy for about 80 percent of its electricity.
More electricity will be necessary as the economy and our population grow, or if scientific arguments and political action turn fossil fuels into an energy dinosaur. Alternative sources and conservation will make contributions to our power future, but it would be impractical to think they will meet all burgeoning energy demands.
Now is the time to begin planning and preparing for new nuclear plants if the nation expects to continue enjoying a vibrant economy and an improved quality of life.
Opinion
In our view: Nuclear options
- Opinion
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Our View: Victims should come first
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Beth Meeker, guest columnist: Same-sex marriage battle a quest for equal rights
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Sunday Forum: 2012 graduation speakers key on tornado, mall school and president’s visit
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Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Pack mentality takes truth as a casualty
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Your View: ‘Study’ can mean anything
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Our View: Support for museum
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Our View: Finding middle ground
The G-8 summit held last week in Camp David ended as expected.
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Anson Burlingame, guest columnist: Class of 2012 upholds character, hope
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Scott Charton, guest columnist: 'Deadline in Disaster' film a story about storytellers
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Our View: Make voting easiser
This year’s ballot will not include a proposed constitutional amendment that photo identification be required at the polls in Missouri. Good.
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