Predicting the Fallout From Japan’s Nuclear Problems

As US states grapple with finding alternative sources of energy, I couldn’t help but wonder about the ramifications of Japan’s nuclear power plant problems this past weekend. First some quick stats, the US is currently the world’s largest producer of nuclear power, with 104 nuclear reactors in 31 states, operated by 30 different power companies.

Government policy changes since the late 1990s have helped pave the way for significant growth in nuclear capacity. In fact, president Barack Obama has pushed for the expansion of nuclear power to help meet the country’s energy demands, lower its dependence on imported fossil fuels and reduce its climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, a number of states have been considering upping their nuclear power allocations as part of their master energy plans.