To seek out out extra about why Oswego is so longing for nuclear — and what would occur subsequent if it’s chosen — Vox video producer Nate Krieger traveled there to satisfy with the mayor of Oswego and see the nuclear energy vegetation up shut.
There are a variety of advantages to including extra nuclear power to the grid. The typical US nuclear energy station can present sufficient electrical energy to help 1.4 million houses. Nuclear energy operates 24/7 and doesn’t generate carbon emissions or conventional air air pollution. Plus, these vegetation create tons of of jobs.
However disasters like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima Daiichi loom massive within the public creativeness. Many individuals don’t need nuclear energy of their yard, understandably cautious of doable disasters and the problem of nuclear waste. Nuclear energy vegetation within the US retailer their waste in dry casks, which is a comparatively protected methodology however just isn’t designed to be everlasting. And different opponents of constructing a brand new nuclear plant upstate cite problems with value and the size of the development undertaking.
Even when Oswego is chosen to be the location of the subsequent nuclear energy plant in New York state, it will seemingly take over a decade earlier than it will get to reap these rewards. America has not had an awesome monitor report of constructing nuclear on time and on funds. The newest energy plant constructed within the US was Vogtle, Georgia, which was years delayed and billions of {dollars} over funds.
This video appears into the nation’s historical past with nuclear energy, attempting to determine why the US fell to this point behind and what constructing clear and environment friendly energy might appear to be sooner or later, particularly for the city of Oswego.
