Advanced Nuclear and Climate Change

I’ve been lucky enough to have been included in a long-running discussion among some of the high-level proponents of advanced nuclear.  As most of these people are senior scientists, many with PhDs, the lion’s share of the conversation is on the science, some of which is fairly daunting.  Once in a while, however, someone will throw in a comment that gets into the sociological and political context for all this.

A gentleman named “David” writes about the imperative for nuclear:

Hi, all. New technology would open big doors for investors. Too bad it will put the fossil fuel industry out of business unless they want to pivot into nuclear. I can’t believe guys smart enough to get elected in this toxic political world can seriously be deniers of climate change. They have kids; wouldn’t they want a livable planet for them? I know money trumps everything, but a smart human being would not (defecate) in his own yard. There has to be more to it. The big tobacco play book has the answers, I’m sure.

David: I too have been trying to make sense of the same issue, but I’m not sure there’s anything more to it than what you mentioned above, i.e., that money trumps everything.

For those who may have missed it last night, here’s Stephen Colbert’s terrific piece on this subject, as it applies to the new-found Republican majority in the U.S. Senate.  I urge readers to scroll down and watch the video; it’s brilliant.