NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/sci/space/17999

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-22 | 1.4 KB

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Subject: Breeder Reactors
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Date: 22 Dec 92 00:42:50 GMT
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Session's Answer was too flipant.  The reason the U.S. doesn't hav mre
ooops have more breeder reactors is that the anti-nuke forces won a battle
in the late seventies and President Jimmy Carter stopped the development
of them.  The arguements given revolved around the proliferation of
Plutonium that the reactors "breed" and not on the safety of the
reactors.  The nuke power industry was trying to sell them as the answer
to lmited supplies of nuclear fuel (o.k. expensive supplies) because they
produce 5 lbs of fuel for every 4 they consume.  Unfortunately, the
plutonium is also a great nuke weapon resource.


It should be noted that Japan is pursuing breeders agressively.  I believe
the shipment of fuel they are getting now goes toward a reactor that is
a breeder but I am not sure.

Grant Anderson
[e-mail]