Maybe I’m being too narrow in my thinking when I say a Chernobyl CAN‘T happen here.

When I think of Chernobyl, I think of what actually happened and that can not happen with proposed nuclear reactors. That’s not the same as saying nuclear problems can’t happen. Anything involving humans — especially us males who hate to read the instructions — has some risk.

I remember when Three Mile Island happened. There was a partial melt-down with no public health problem, no radiation release. That was because of the melt-down — not despite it.

A melt-down is a final guard against uncontrolled fission reaction. The surrounding materials are designed to melt and dampen the reaction. Fukushima’s problems were caused by loss of coolant, then coolant introduced but not enough and the boiled off water or simply heated water escaping, carrying some radioactive material with it. Workers not trained for the unexpected.

Future designs are set up to provide coolant even if all mechanical systems fail. (That doesn’t mean somebody can’t manage to mess up the safety features.)

But as to the strict thought of Chernobyl-type problems: they can’t happen. Not won’t happen — can’t happen.

Chernobyl did not suffer a melt down. The uranium wasn’t surrounded by material which would melt and kill the reaction. It was surrounded by graphite which will burn but not melt. And it DID burn. The problem was caused by an uncontrolled graphite fire whose smoke contained radioactive material spreading it far and wide.

We DON’T use graphite moderated reactors. We wouldn’t use the Fukushima design, even though it took an earthquake and a tsunami together with non training to cause it to fail.

David for safety

And 429SCJ, I wasn’t implying that you were.. no worries mate.

There are great concerns about electromagnetic pluses being used to take out power grids and electronic backup systems by foreign governments or expected sun flares which would cripple our country. Anything that has a computer chip, which is most everything these days, would be damaged when this occurs leaving no cooling system for this nuclear power plant resulting in a melt down like Fukushima. Which is much worse than Chernobyl’s meltdown. There should be great concern by all citizens living within a hundred mile radious of the proposed plant area. If we lose power now we are only inconvenienced but, if it is nuclear it becomes life threatening without the ability to cool it. It would contaminate all areas making it uninhabitable.

Also, there are several plants today that are old and leaking badly around the country without the ability to close them per community request because they are considered private business eventhough they propose a danger to the community! The community should not allow this plant to be built.

I read an article and listened to an interview by retired officials about a nuclear submarine and cruise ship becoming dead in the Pacific waters off of California after an electromagnatic device was used. If you don’t think it is possible for this to happen look it up!

Of course a Chernobyl could happen here; that is like saying nothing bad will happen to “my” family. Why on earth would we believe that the government officials would stop this and really help us, the citizens? Government (in general) is cutting way back on employees, expecting existing employees to do the work of two or more people. Look at the overload Social Workers have, or Public Defenders, all types of Inspectors or any other government employee.

If Gulf Power has enough money to lobby the appropriate people they will get what they want. At that point we are just sitting ducks and can only pray that a disaster never happens. We all want “alternative” power sources but I personally don’t want a nuclear power plant in my back yard. For heavens sake we live in florida, why isn’t solar an option?