Way back in the lizard part of my brain a thought keeps recurring that the last thing we should be doing is burning up all of our natural gas and other petroleum reserves.

Pollution or not... the most prudent thing to do is to stop importing oil, limit/stop burning our natural gas and oil and instead to burn up our abundant coal reserves instead.

Make electricity cheaply using existing plant (and employ Americans in every stage of it, reduce the trade imbalance and strengthen the dollar while we're at it) that further development of that distribution infrastructure to meet the needs of ever more electric based appliances (including auto's) will make even better business sense.

Simultaneously (over the next 30-40 years) we shall develop other electricity generating technology to replace the coal burners as they age out.

Perhaps nuclear will be one of them but I'm still far more concerned about nuke safety than I am coal filth.

Shattuck is an idiot!! Plain & simple. Need I say more?

What would you do as CEO of a company which had over 50% of its generation come from nuclear? Renounce it at every opportunity?

BK, you're right...you don't need to say more. You do need to get a clue, though.

MrRational: I have seen you post here before, and usually respect your rationality. However, most people cannot accurately (or even inaccurately) describe how nuclear power works, how the electrical grid operates, or what it takes to be a corporate player in the utility field. Why, then, should the rest of us be swayed by the emotional out-pouring of hate and fear that you say nuclear generates? Nuclear safety is at an all-time high. Three Mile Island...no deaths, no offsite exposure (face the truth: years of documented proof and study by PA Health and NCI show that). Davis-Bessie...no actual damage or exposure to the public. Even the recent "radiological event" at the operating Three Mile Island generated more press than what could reasonably be expected.

Truth is, the NRC and the industry itself (through INPO) have raised reliability and safety higher than anyone has ever seen. If you don't think it's safe, and you're worried about "exposure" or "radiation leaks", ask your dentist how much exposure you get from a dental x-ray, or how many hours that emergency room doctor has worked when you bring your kid into the hospital ER. Odds are much higher (exponentially) that an ACTUAL death could occur from a doctor's mistake than could anyone be even "exposed" by an event at a nuclear plant. The extensive safety training, the low threshold for reporting problems, and the pride that most nuclear workers have make it an organization to be proud of. As far as waste....if you stacked up all the waste from commercial nuclear power, if would take up the size of a football field 10 ft. deep. Is that really so much compared to strip mining a state (West Va.) to dig up some coal? How many coal miners have died in the U.S. vs. number of nuclear deaths?

I respect people's opinions to support a cause...but please educate yourself so that you can understand what you're upset about.