TVA should focus on a better grid and renewable, not nuclear, energy | Opinion
Nuclear energy is a fool’s folly and a waste of time and money. Unfortunately, the lobby around the Tennessee Valley Authority's nuclear options is strong. It must be noted that Jeff Lyash, president and CEO of TVA, who wrote the guest column "How Tennessee Valley Authority is planning for growth and meeting future demands," is also the chairman of the Nuclear Energy Institute. I am not so sure TVA has the best interests of its customers in mind.
Several experts and foundations have investigated this form of energy. Massive nuclear plants are costly, and a recent Fortune magazine article stated that since 2000 "at least $50 billion has been spent on a frantic effort to create a new Golden Age for nuclear energy in the U.S." Nuclear energy will cost more per kilowatt hours than the renewable energy options like solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower.
The money wasted on these dangerous sites could be more wisely used by TVA to take the steps towards the switch to safe, sustainable forms of energy and a better energy grid.
The chain of nuclear fuel starts with the mining of uranium and ends with radioactive waste. Spent fuel refers to the nuclear fuel that has been used in a reactor. Spent fuel rods are millions of times more radioactive than the fuel rods when first used. Each step of this chain, from mining to power plants, harms the environment and public health. It is also a social justice issue.
In addition, we know extreme weather events could grossly affect the safety of a nuclear facility.
The timeline of nuclear activity in science is a new technology. The shelf life of radioactive waste is long, and its long-term impacts on the environment and biology are unknown. We know radiation is cancerous.
Also on the table is the risk of uranium falling into the hands of rogue actors, leading to weaponry.
Nuclear power is not making us safe. It demands perfect conditions, and its problems can be exponentially harmful.
It must be asked if TVA, several elected representatives, and Gov. Bill Lee are being influenced by the fossil fuel and nuclear lobby.
In Cheatham County, a piece of farmland owned by TVA is poised to possibly become the site of a methane gas plant, and most of this energy will be sent to Nashville to satisfy the needs of that growing community.
It's important that we all understand we must move away from fossil fuels and avoid nuclear energy.
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We must see the sustainable options being deployed. Investment in and implementation of clean and safe energy is well underway. Renewable energy focus right now will satisfy our energy needs much quicker than nuclear power.
We need help understanding we can turn to solar, wind, hydropower and geothermal-generated energy and that we must make the switch to clean, sustainable energy as soon as possible.
Why in the world would TVA put us at such risk?
Ita Hardesty-Mason is an environmental and social justice advocate who lives on the Highland Rim in Cheatham County with roots in Nashville.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Opinion: TVA should focus on shift to renewable, not nuclear, energy
