BRATTLEBORO — In response to a recent commentary by a retired nuclear worker in the Rutland Herald, here is a short response from someone not in the industry of why nuclear is not carbon-free.
Note that this response is short, because you do not need many words to speak the truth.
Nuclear is not the answer to climate change.
Valid concerns exist about global warming caused by carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants. Yet production of uranium fuel also results in greenhouse-gas emissions.
Indeed, uranium mining and milling are among the most carbon-dioxide-intensive industrial operations.
In addition, reprocessing of old irradiated uranium rods releases radioactive carbon dioxide as well as other radioactive materials into the environment.