It’s rare that I get excited about a news-ish event. China is announcing plans to build 30 Nuclear reactors in the next 15 years. This has got to be the coolest thing I’ve ever heard of China doing.

Before you go crazy, check out this article. For a short summary: This isn’t your father’s nuclear reactor. This is what should have been built from the beginning, unfortunately there was too much greed.

These reactors are meltdown-proof. The design is such that the laws of physics keep the reaction in check. It’s been demonstrated… They’ve cut the cooling system off, and sat back and watched it do what it’s supposed to do– cool itself off and slow the reaction.

This is the first rational step I’ve seen toward a sustainable energy solution in a long time. This solves more than just the problem of fossil-burning power plants, it answers the question that nobody seems to be brave enough to ask– “Where is the hydrogen going to come from?” These reactors are particularly well suited to generate the hydrogen needed for fuel cells to power things like emissions-free cars.

Now we just have to figure out someway to undo the psychological damage caused by the mass media and nutcases and show the world safe nuclear power.

I just worry that we’re probably too late, and the global weather situation is going to be painfully obvious to all the nay-sayers in the next 20 years.

Berck