Regarding the letter “We must focus on renewable energy sources” (Dec. 29, TribLive): You’re right — climate change is a massive threat, risking water shortages, food crises and global tensions. That’s exactly why nuclear is the slam-dunk solution you’re overlooking.
Worried about “enormous” environmental risks and water contamination? Nuclear’s lifecycle CO2 emissions are as low as wind’s and a fraction of solar’s — near zero during operation, crushing the fossil backups your “transient” renewables need when the sun hides or wind dies.
Water depletion? Modern nuclear uses closed-loop cooling, consuming less per kWh than coal and far less than the rare-earth mining floods that poison rivers for your solar panels and batteries.
Destructive accidents? Nuclear has the lowest death rate of any energy source — safer than solar roof installs, even including Chernobyl and Fukushima. Outdated boogeymen don’t change facts.
And those greedy “tech-bro oligarchs”? Gates, Bezos, Altman, Google, Amazon, Microsoft — they’re dumping billions into nuclear because it’s reliable, dense and actually fights the climate chaos you fear, powering AI without blackouts or emissions.
You want efficient, safe, realistic solutions that preserve resources? Nuclear delivers baseload power on a tiny footprint — hundreds of times less land than sprawling wind/solar farms — while backing up your beloved renewables.
Stop letting 1970s fears block the one tech that aligns perfectly with your own goals. Nuclear isn’t the enemy of the environment; it’s the greens’ best friend.
Jamie W. Maus
Latrobe