Over the weekend the last of Japan's nuclear reactors was shut down. Though this doesn't appear to be a permanent thing being they said it was for regular maintenance. What a tough issue to take sides with in regards to nuclear energy.
I can certainly see how there would be a fear of nuclear energy for some in Japan. Rightfully so, there is an area surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi power plant that is going to be useless for a long time to come. I am not sure though if anyone, outside of workers at the plant, has died as a direct result of the nuclear accident there. How much has the environment exactly been effected? THese are all legitimate concerns and I understand the fear people have, it is human nature to act like this.
I know Japan is highly active when it comes to earthquakes, but we know that the actual earthquake didn't cause damage to the plant. Instead it was the ensuing tsunami that crippled the plant by taking out its ability to keep the reactors cool. We can't think realistically that Japan will suffer another earthquake and also a tsunami of this magnitude in the near future. This was an epic event that only happens so often, very rare you can say.
So next thing is to look at exactly where all of Japan's reactors are located. Since I am no expert in determining what areas are safer than others when it comes to earthquakes and tsunamis, I will leave that to those who can. I will say that I am sure there are reactors that are not in such potential dangerous locations though.
Is it necessary for Japan to really shut down all it's working and operational reactors? I mean really does shutting them down help even in the slightest bit? Technically isn't it more just stopped production of electricity and not really shutting down? Isn't there still nuclear fuel rods that need to be continually cooled down regardless of the plant being operational or not? So if for some reason another catastrophe strikes Japan again while these plants are shut down, and one or even several plants suffer something similar to the Fukushima plant, they would suffer similar fates too?
Since no one has a real viable alternative to fix the situation immediately really all Japan is doing is simply not being as efficient as it could be with it's energy creation. Nuclear once you build it and stock it with nuclear fuel, I think you are pretty much stuck with it until you can completely remove it and find somewhere else to store it safely. That is a big question then, where will all the fuel and spent rods go from Japan's plants if they decide to shut these down permanently? Japan is not that big and what prefecture and communities there will be the ones to say sure we will accept your nuclear waste gladly? If any place accepts it openly then they might as well turn around and build a plant there and use the fuel and put it to use.
Nuclear energy is indeed safe and clean when all goes well. The real lesson here is be prepared for the unexpected. The world never had to experience this situation before, Chernobyl was different that was not caused by an act of nature, and three mile was an accident where the safe guards prevented disaster from actually happening. Regardless of how these nuclear events occur we can certainly learn from them. I am sure engineers are already working on a better more fail proof safety net all nuclear power plants everywhere will be looking into. Unfortunately right now Japan has to be reactive instead of having the chance to be proactive, granted the reactive measures will now help be proactive for the future.
Nuclear energy made up about 30% of Japan's energy consumption. That means now fossil fuel power plants will have to output more energy. This means more consumption of fossil fuels, more demand may drive market prices higher for everyone, more pollution, greater potential of increased health effects and the unknown factor still if they can produce enough energy long term to sustain the world’s 3rd largest economy. Right now it is all fine because it is still spring and Japan has not gotten hot yet. Last year so many people were conservative with their energy consumption because of the disaster in March. How long can the people keep that up? If the summer gets too hot, more and more people are going to want to turn on their A/C's, fans, etc. If the economy heats up then production at factories probably will increase as well, that means even more power consumption will take place.
I know the environmentalists, anti-nuclear and those who simply live in fear think they are doing the right thing, and I know their minds are in the right place, but I just simply see them as those who want to complain but have no real viable solution to the problem. Saying to get rid of, shut down, or whatever simply is not the right way. Plus on top of it the almost vast majority of these people have little to zero clue about the subject, so they can't even weigh in professionally. Activism is great so long as you can offer real solutions to what you are being active about. I would like to see those against nuclear energy show me their plans to eliminate the already existing plants, and I mean a real legitimate plan.
