Nuclear Power
It certainly would be a bargain with regard to peace of mind to buy the Chernobyl nuclear complex and shut it down (“Chernobyl Up From the Grave,” editorial, Dec. 7). The West has only itself to blame for failing to support construction of replacement reactors that meet worldwide, accepted safety standards. This work must be pushed forward. The Chernobyl plants can never be made acceptable.
We will all be affected by another accident in Ukraine, but not by the radiation. It will be the political fallout that could cripple worldwide nuclear power programs. Your editorial concludes that Kiev should finance natural gas and coal plants that are nonpolluting. There will always be pollutants from natural gas, such as nitrogen oxides, and even more from coal. And all fossil-fuel burning emits greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
Done properly, nuclear power, which emits no pollutants, has served to substantially reduce the levels of pollution in the U.S. and other nations committed to safe nuclear power programs.
HUGO POMREHN
Westminster
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