By John Pritsiolas , Columnist
After the horrific events that occurred at the Fukushima reactors last March, one would like to believe that nuclear energy is no longer viewed as a viable resource. Unfortunately, many people still hold nuclear energy in a favorable light despite the dire consequences of the disaster in Japan. For example, David Ropeik (a professor at Harvard), is out with an article lamenting the individuals who wish to shut down two nuclear reactors in California. He focuses his attention on two different groups, baby boomers and environmentalists. According to Mr. Ropeik, he blames baby boomers ‘irrational’ feelings towards nuclear energy on a so-called cold war mindset. Mr. Ropeik then goes on to broadly label anyone else that opposes nuclear energy, as an “environmentalist”. On that note, I regret to inform Mr. Ropeik, that I do not consider myself an environmentalist by any definition of the word. As such, I will make the argument why nuclear energy in its current form simply remains unfeasible, on a purely economic basis.
I believe it is important to begin with remarks from John Rowe, the former CEO of Exelon (the largest provider of nuclear energy in America). Who recently stated that, “I’m the nuclear guy and you won’t get better results with nuclear [energy]. It just isn’t economic, and it’s not economic within a foreseeable time