We use a lot of power in our computing infrastructure. And while I’m mindful of the concerns over safety, environment, etc., I think nuclear power should be part of the solution moving forward in the US. I can’t speak for other countries, but having worked in a plant here in the US, I’m comfortable with it.

I found this article about a number of companies filing applications for licenses for new plants. Apparently there have been 17 companies looking to build 26 new plants. I’m guessing a number of them are on existing nuclear sites, which often had been “approved” but not licensed for financed for another plant. One of the plants I worked at, the North Anna plant in Virginia, actually had been approved for 4 reactors, 2 were built, a 3rd barely started and stopped after Three Mile Island.

I’m sorry there aren’t plants in Colorado being started, especially with our good geological sites here, but at least there are quite a few being considered. I think we’re definitely a better site than Florida!

I think part of the key here is building better designs, simpler, with more cookie cutter technologies. That lowers costs, and it makes it easier for people to be trained to work on these plants. All 4 of the reactors I’d worked near had lots of one-off stuff in them, which i inefficient, and arguably not as safe.

The next few energy updates won’t talk nuclear, so I thought I’d get this out here in the blog. We need more power, and given the fact I love my computers, I want it to be stable, plentiful, and cheap!