[ExI] time once again for nukes

[spike at rainier66.com]

When I started my career in aerospace engineering in the 80s, there are a
lotta guys whose engineering degree was in nuclear engineering, which was a
very rigorous course, a hybrid of mechanical engineering and physics.  The
US chose to not go down that road, so the nuke engineers had to go to Europe
or go into alternative fields.  They made excellent aerospace guys.  Every
one of the nuke guys I ever worked with was top notch.  They took a risk and
lost in a sense: they never were able to do the work they trained for in
undergrad and some had graduate degrees in the field.

 

Washington state went with wind power.  If you go along the Columbia Gorge,
you can see it.  This you can do without leaving your chair, thanks to
Google maps street view.  Set your guy anywhere along the gorge either side,
look around, you can see them.

 

Now the public utilities people are saying no more wind:

 

https://www.bentonpud.org/getattachment/Safety-Education/Safety/Wind/Wind-Po
wer-and-Clean-Energy-Policy-Perspectives-Report-Benton-PUD-FINAL-July-14-202
0-(1).PDF.aspx?lang=en-US

 

Well, OK they aughta know.  I notice they aren't rushing to go solar either.

 

If we have a national commitment to reduce carbon emissions and we know that
intermittent sources have their limitations, then we are left with. nuclear
power.  The guys who took nuke engineering degrees in the 80s are now
approaching retirement in many cases, too late to start in the field for the
first time.  So. I would argue that now is a good time for students to look
for a nuclear engineering program.  It's an idea whose time has come and
gone and is coming again.

 

spike

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