<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now the public utilities people are saying no more wind:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.bentonpud.org/getattachment/Safety-Education/Safety/Wind/Wind-Power-and-Clean-Energy-Policy-Perspectives-Report-Benton-PUD-FINAL-July-14-2020-(1).PDF.aspx?lang=en-US">https://www.bentonpud.org/getattachment/Safety-Education/Safety/Wind/Wind-Power-and-Clean-Energy-Policy-Perspectives-Report-Benton-PUD-FINAL-July-14-2020-(1).PDF.aspx?lang=en-US</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Well, OK they aughta know. I notice they aren’t rushing to go solar either.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>spike<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>