Letter: Uneven playing field for nuclear, hydro, solar and wind energy

Again the state’s wet/west side residents shoot themselves in the foot. By calling for the closure of the Energy Northwest nuclear plant and for yet more “green” non-CO2 electrical generation, the Seattle City Council has stated the impossible. The two objectives are in direct conflict with each other.

The U.S. nuclear plant fleet provides the largest share of “green” non-CO2 emitting power by over two times the solar and wind output combined, — and unlike hydro, solar and wind, a nuclear plant doesn’t depend on the weather to generate electricity. The nuclear fleet is the backbone of the U.S. baseload of 100 percent predictable CO2-free electric generation.

And unlike solar and wind, the nuclear industry doesn’t get huge government subsidies borne on the backs of us taxpayers. Quite the opposite. The U.S. nuclear plant fleet pays millions each year in taxes to the Fed for spent fuel disposal, but the Fed has yet to take one gram of spent fuel.

Talk about an uneven playing field. Hopefully someday the insanity will come to an end.

This story was originally published June 12, 2016 at 2:04 AM with the headline "Letter: Uneven playing field for nuclear, hydro, solar and wind energy."