California's Nuclear Power Plants Built to Withstand Earthquakes

California's Nuclear Power Plants Built to Withstand Earthquakes

200 miles up coast from Manhattan Beach Beach sits El Diablo Canyon Power Plant, close proximity to four earthquake faults.

A deep breath, and disregard of all gloomy about nuclear energy and earthquakes. Look at the facts. Japan has four nuclear power plants on the east coast, and we have some in California, on or near earthquake fault lines - and were designed to withstand an earthquake with a Richter rating going from 7.0 to 7.5 .

So let's recognize and try to understand the massive object lesson in playing at Fukushima Dai-ichi plant.

The Three Mile Island, then much more comprehensible, the Chernobyl disaster, the world has begun to reassess the safety of nuclear power in the mid 20 th century have been sold to us as "safe, clean and cheap also meter. "radiation leaks were in Pennsylvania, and the dangers to those living nearby, finally rather low. In the Soviet Union, however, the only "Level 7" case has been registered, a nuclear accident caused 50 deaths at the same time, an unknown number of deaths radiation in subsequent years, and resettlement of over 300,000 people.

Japan and California are very similar places, both geographically and in terms of our employees: Pacific Rim economic colossus, innovative technology in the Ring of Fire dangerous earthquake zone.

Supporters also state of two nuclear power plants, located in Fukushima, for example, is on the edge of the sea to say that the situation is different here. None of the San Onofre and Diablo Canyon could have an impact on the earthquake and tsunami in the open sea, because Southern California is not the same kind of errors diving nearby. E 'comforting in its way.

We are confident that the Japanese plant operators had no idea what an earthquake a thousand years, with a magnitude of 9.0 would their aging facilities. We're not quite sure what they might do if they knew. We are not overreacting at least when we say there are many unknowns when it comes to nuclear energy.

Now it is time to understand this country earthquake and nuclear power plants is not a good mix.

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Nuclear reactor explosion in Japan

Nuclear reactor explosion in Japan, nuclear explosion

Until this weekend, the nuclear industry was arguably in the midst of a resurgence. The horrific memories of past disasters seem to fade comfortably into the recesses of history books, many countries have begun to explore nuclear power as a greener alternative to fossil fuels. Earthquake that struck Japan 8.9 on Friday set off a chain reaction of devastation, which will probably lead to a general reassessment of the planned facilities worldwide.

Europe is already beginning to face a public backlash, and political debates, too. France faces criticism from its own anti-nuclear group, considering that the country produces about 80 percent of its electricity from nuclear energy. Energy Secretary Chris Huhne UK has publicly called on British officials and the public not to panic about British nuclear strategy, and noted the absence of earthquakes in England. Germans, many of whom are opposed to nuclear power, saw the events of the weekend at a nuclear plant, with about 40,000 people.

Despite the result of Japan's efforts to prevent nuclear catastrophe, the impact on nuclear energy has already begun.

China and India are reviewing their nuclear plans, reports Bloomberg. India plans to spend $ 175 billion in 2030 on nuclear energy, and China plans to add 27 jets in five years, the report said.

Do not expect that fears over Japan nuclear accident go away anytime soon. It took decades for the accident at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island in the memories to fade.

Beyond PR nightmare of the dangers of nuclear power are the costs of such care. Not only to build plants, but also for nuclear deal with any problems. World Nuclear Association, Rehabilitation damaged nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island, the system lasted for almost 12 years and cost approximately $ 973,000,000.

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