In a recent viewing of The Washington Post’s video “The Future of Energy,” I’m reminded again that the subject of the nuclear option surfaces in most government and industry projections of how to reach Net Zero by 2050, which we must do to survive as a civilization. Rarely mentioned, however, is the uncomfortable fact that nuclear energy is not guaranteed safe on several levels: apocalyptic accidents, waste disposal, uranium mining, and weaponization — of both the technology and the spent rods themselves.
Scrupulously maintaining the existing plants, sealing away the waste as best we can and slowly dismantling and detoxifying the older facilities one at a time as they go out of service is the only acceptable nuclear plan, in my layman’s mind. According to the Energy Information Administration, in 2019 the nuclear share of total U.S. electricity generating capacity was 9 percent (3 percent in Oregon). Couldn’t we make up those percentages with geothermal, wave power, improved battery capacity, community-based gravity storage of wind and solar electricity and smaller, local, high-tech windmills, not to mention smart highways and buildings, triple-pane windows, passive solar, alternatives to cement, massive and mandatory recycling, more shade trees, better mass transit, less cattle ranching, and overall reduced consumption patterns?
The problem, of course, is profits, and profits in the form of money (as opposed to a healthy planet) are better obtained when big industries control all the levers, including the politicians.
Jack Cooper
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
Comments are closed.