TO THE EDITOR:
The efforts of the Beyond Coal campaign are laudable, but the movement should make an even bolder demand — that the money divested from coal be invested in nuclear power.
Quite simply, nuclear power is the only energy source that can meet growing electricity needs while reducing pollution.
Supporting a modern society requires a large, controllable supply of power that can reliably generate electricity as it is consumed. Solar and wind will never be able to do this, but nuclear can, while still emitting no greenhouse gases.
Many say nuclear power is expensive, but this is because it is the only power source that pays for all its externalities and is subject to overbearing and inefficient regulation.
Many say it’s dangerous, but drinking two cups of coffee a day subtracts 10 times more from your life expectancy than nuclear power, even considering Chernobyl and Fukushima.
Many point to these incidents, but then ignore the fact that France and Sweden, which have operated on a majority of nuclear power for decades, have never had a serious accident.
Scientists solved the energy crisis and the greenhouse gas problem 50 years ago. It’s time for the public and politicians to catch up.
Eric Boyers ’16
Physics
Mathematics
