Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Underpinnings of Energy Choices: Philosophy and Power

ANS Plenary Session, from ANS blog
Showing Up and Paying Attention

I returned recently  from the American Nuclear Society meeting in Atlanta. The plenary session featured chief executives from many facets of nuclear energy.  However, in my opinion, there was a pall over the meeting, due to the recent permanent closing of four American nuclear plants.

I have a blog post up today at ANS Nuclear Cafe: Philosophy, Shale Gas and the ANS Annual Meeting.

In this post, I discuss the statements of the industry executives in terms of the philosophy; Show Up, Pay Attention, Tell the Truth, and Don't be Attached to the Consequences.

 Fair Share

Clearing for a wind turbine
Earlier this month, my friend Howard Shaffer had a post at the ANS Nuclear Cafe: A Dangerous Precedent or a Slippery Slope.  This was also cross posted at The Energy Collective.

In this post, Howard looks at local control over energy projects, and discusses when this is a good thing, and when it is the slippery slope to unbridled nimby-ism.  The philosophical question: What is a community's "fair share" of a common burden? He includes extensive discussion of wind energy regulations in Vermont.

1 comment:

Mike Mulligan said...


Meredith,

I invite you and all your friends to come out on the road with me. We could build newer and better bridges between us all. Give me 8 hours of your time and you would never see the world the same again?

http://steamshovel2002.blogspot.com/

“Summer 2013: Hinsdale/Brat Route 119 Bridge Protest”

Now you seen me in my PJS:) (Wake up, wake…WAKE UP)

I have been spending some 40 hours a week protesting by myself and I made a great impression on my family, community, surrounding and beyond. Well, I am not by myself; I am with all my friends who pass by me in 10,000 cars a day…

The word “bridge” is such a great metaphor…

“Talk, talk, talk’…I’d know deep in my heart that it is not me no matter what anyone said. Saying all mike does is “talk, talk, talk” would make me, my wife and my community smile or laugh because they’d know it sits so opposite of what they know about me.

Can you guys take a joke? These are my pictures of the “rust” inside the San Onofre steam generators? It is a joke