It was so refreshing to learn that utilities are seriously taking steps to expand the use of nuclear power (“Power woes put nuclear in new light,” Page 1, April 1). I have always felt that nuclear was the way to go, and now with the skyrocketing cost of natural gas and the blackouts in California, nuclear energy has to be expanded.
According to the article, 50 percent of the power in Illinois comes from nuclear generation. In the Chicago area, we have not experienced a shortage of power. To me, this is a positive.
With nuclear power, we would not be dependent on the cost or availability of natural gas. Of course, there are risks, but there is risk in everything. There is risk in mining coal; there is risk in burning coal and dirtying the atmosphere. With the experience of nuclear behind us and safeguards in place, along with new technology, the risks have been minimized.
Now if we can only get the U.S. Congress off its duff and decide how to handle nuclear waste, that would go a long way toward resolving many of the problems.
