DAVE ROSS

Ross: Is nuclear power the future of green energy?

Oct 8, 2019, 7:48 AM

Nuclear power...

Nuclear power could help us end climate change once and for all. (AP)

(AP)

It’s tempting to think that economic growth makes climate change inevitable, and that the only solution is to back off before nature loses all patience and does to us what it did to the Bahamas.

Ross: The path to zero emissions is paved with nuclear energy

Wrong answer, says Andrew McAfee.

Total energy use in America has been flat for about ten years — our carbon emissions are declining,” he noted. “If we lead the way on that, the rest of the world will follow that and they will de-carbonize much earlier in their history than we did.”

McAfee is co-director of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy, and the trick, he says, is for the government put a higher price on carbon emissions, to motivate the free market to keep doing more with less (incidentally, More From Less is the title of his new book).

Just one catch: We have to be willing to accept all sources of clean energy.

“I think we have an extraordinarily useful, clean, safe, green, scalable energy source out there but it scares a lot of people because it’s called nuclear,” he described.

Fossil fuels could cause clouds to disappear

Nuclear! He was once anti-nuclear, but says the latest designs are safe, affordable, and, because zero carbon is released, thoroughly green.

“I think our future is going to be pretty nuclear powered, but it does require us to get past the ”ick’ factor.”

Fair point, but if the alternative is more Bahamas, I think I’d take that deal.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

4 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

11 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

1 month ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

2 months ago

Ross: Is nuclear power the future of green energy?