Nuclear Power in the USA

[CandyApple]

I found a list of nuclear power plants in the US today. Since I don't want to live anywhere near one, I'm sure others feel the same way.

List of nuclear reactors - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The name of the power plant isn't necessarily the name of the city that it's in, so you'll need to click to see where they are.

I also have the list from a .gov site, but I had trouble figuring out just where in each state these plants were located: Nuclear Plants Operating in the United States, 2003

I was trying to figure out how far I'd want to be, at the minimum from a nuke plant, so I looked up Chernobyl: NRC: Fact Sheet on the Accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

After the accident, access to the area in an 18-mile radius around the plant was closed, except for persons requiring official access to the plant and to the immediate area for evaluating and dealing with the consequences of the accident and operation of the undamaged units.

I also looked up Three Mile Island:
NRC: Fact Sheet on the Three Mile Island Accident

So, apparently an 18 mile radius was quarenteened, so I'd think I'd want to be farther than that. But it also says the fallout spread worldwide, and I don't think I could leave Earth, so... I still don't know how far I'd have to be from a nuke plant to feel comfortable.

Ugh, they have two nuke stations in Texas. Not happy about that.

[PDXnative]

I would rather live next to a nuclear power plant then a coal fired power plant. Modern nuclear plants are a LOT cleaner than coal fired.

[CandyApple]

Yeah, the past couple days I've been reading up on nukes- there's tons of stuff on wikipedia.org - and yesterday+today I happened to start reading on coal. Not a pretty picture, either- filthy! Power generation is pretty ugly stuff. Then I was reading up on other disasters, like floods and stuff. There's so many possibilities for doom that I guess you've gotta pick which ones you're most comfortable with.

Well, I'm most against nuclear for its capacity for massive, long term, widespread damage. I guess the danger is part of what makes nuclear power exciting, kinda like bungee jumping or parachuting or lion taming can be thrilling. But, I'm not one for thrills. I figure it's just a matter of time before another one pops a gasket and the whole area is screwed. I've read some and thought about it and I figure that about 100 miles is a pretty good distance. Don't think I can get much farther than that from every nuclear power plant in America, anyway. Too bad, that means I can't live in Port Lavaca or Freeport/Surfside Beach, 'cause there's a nuke station in Bay City roughly less than 50 miles from each (I used a ruler to measure in my atlas, so I might be off a little). FYI, the other nuke station is in Glen Rose.

Here's a list of civilian and military nuclear accidents:
civilian: List of civilian radiation accidents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
military: List of military nuclear accidents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A few others: Nuclear and radiation accidents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[isabel]

We live not to far from a nuke plant...Rancho Saco...can you believe they have a campground and lake there. I even hear folks talking about going there. Just doesn't sound like a family outing to me.

Izzy

[Wyoming53]

Izzy. Be nice. You would be surprised at the tomatoes that I raised in San Diego. I used to tell people that I went to San AN Ofree to get my water.

I used to go fishing and I'd put all the parts in the garden and til them up. But when people at work asked me about the huge tomatoes? I told them I used water from the golf ball up the coast and although the buckets were really heavy, they made the tomatoes really big.

We have enough regulations in place that I'm not really worried about nuc power plants.

I think I would be more worried about living next to my neighbor. She's nuts. One of these days, she's going to come out and shoot me. She's a nice person. But she just has evil eyes. hahaha

[isabel]

HaH! If I wasn't in California...I could be that nuttty neighbor:) I'm sure my neighbors wonder...why does that lady have so many kids at her age. Yeah I don't worry to much about the nuke plant. Just don't see it as a vacation spot. Sounds kinda of crazy to me. Who ever thought to do...wasn't playing with a full deck. :)

Izzy

[Corlyx]

Originally Posted by CandyApple

Yeah, the past couple days I've been reading up on nukes- there's tons of stuff on wikipedia.org - and yesterday+today I happened to start reading on coal. Not a pretty picture, either- filthy! Power generation is pretty ugly stuff. Then I was reading up on other disasters, like floods and stuff. There's so many possibilities for doom that I guess you've gotta pick which ones you're most comfortable with.

Well, I'm most against nuclear for its capacity for massive, long term, widespread damage. I guess the danger is part of what makes nuclear power exciting, kinda like bungee jumping or parachuting or lion taming can be thrilling. But, I'm not one for thrills. I figure it's just a matter of time before another one pops a gasket and the whole area is screwed. I've read some and thought about it and I figure that about 100 miles is a pretty good distance. Don't think I can get much farther than that from every nuclear power plant in America, anyway. Too bad, that means I can't live in Port Lavaca or Freeport/Surfside Beach, 'cause there's a nuke station in Bay City roughly less than 50 miles from each (I used a ruler to measure in my atlas, so I might be off a little). FYI, the other nuke station is in Glen Rose.

Here's a list of civilian and military nuclear accidents:
civilian: List of civilian radiation accidents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
military: List of military nuclear accidents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A few others: Nuclear and radiation accidents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Statistically, your chance of suffering any kind of illness or injury as a result of nuclear power is extremely low. If anything you should be more afraid of driving your car, eating junk food, or too much exposure to the sun. At some point you have to realize you are far more likely to be killed via some other means that it's just not worth getting upset over small possibilities. Any of us can play the "what if" game, and honestly you can play that game forever until it drives you into complete paranoia.

That's not to say it isn't reasonable to care about things like the dangers of nuclear power but don't let it rule your life.