Thorium is an element that is more abundant in the Earth's crust than uranium and could also be used for nuclear energy. In case you are wondering, it was named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder. The initiative Energy from Thorium claims that it is the solution to our energy needs, and they make a good case. Thorium reactors produce less waste than uranium reactors. The weapons-grade material in a thorium reactor (uranium-233) is also more difficult to extract and use for a clandestine weapons program. The video below outlines the benefits of energy from thorium.
As it explains in the video, the reason we don't use thorium is because the nuclear industry was built on uranium light water reactor designs developed for military submarines. Since the technology was well developed for this purpose, it made sense to base our commercial energy industry on the same concept. It would take many changes to the nuclear industry to have thorium reactors and a thorium fuel cycle. This would involve significant investment from industry (electricity consumers) or the government (tax payers).
In addition, the current fleet of reactors in the United States is not as unsafe as the video makes them out to be. They are still the safest form of energy and largest producer of carbon-free electricity that we have. If we want to have a high quality of life and live with electricity, we have to accept that there is risk in any technology.
There are many innovative reactor designs, in addition to thorium reactors, that the United States and other countries have researched in the past or are researching now. However, the U.S. Department of Energy funding for these research projects is generally scarce. The current administration is much more focused on other forms of renewable energy.
Do you want to see our aging fleet of nuclear reactors replaced by newer, safer, and more efficient reactor designs? Tell your congressmen to fund these innovative research projects through the Department of Energy and national laboratories.
In addition, the current fleet of reactors in the United States is not as unsafe as the video makes them out to be. They are still the safest form of energy and largest producer of carbon-free electricity that we have. If we want to have a high quality of life and live with electricity, we have to accept that there is risk in any technology.
There are many innovative reactor designs, in addition to thorium reactors, that the United States and other countries have researched in the past or are researching now. However, the U.S. Department of Energy funding for these research projects is generally scarce. The current administration is much more focused on other forms of renewable energy.
Do you want to see our aging fleet of nuclear reactors replaced by newer, safer, and more efficient reactor designs? Tell your congressmen to fund these innovative research projects through the Department of Energy and national laboratories.
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