Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's large-scale digitization efforts. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the original text that can be both accessed online and used to create new print copies. The Library also understands and values the usefulness of print and makes reprints available to the public whenever possible. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found in the HathiTrust, an archive of the digitized collections of many great research libraries. For access to the University of Michigan Library's digital collections, please see http://www.lib.umich.edu and for information about the HathiTrust, please visit http://www.hathitrust.org ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Automotive Design & Production, published by Thomson Gale on October 1, 2006. The length of the article is 650 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: GM + [H.sub.2] = U - 235.(NOTABLE)(General Motors plans to utilize nuclear energy)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Automotive Design & Production (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 118Issue: 10Page: 28(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description

As energy resources, particularly fossil fuels, become strained, nuclear energy (despite its known shortcomings) must be considered as an alternative. This book presents an objective view of nuclear energy as an important source for future energy needs. It discusses various types of reactors, the nuclear fuel cycle, the problem of nuclear waste disposal, reactor accidents, safety and new types of reactors that are being considered, and the cost of electricity from nuclear power. Additional themes include the problem of nuclear weapons, their storage, and, very important, their disposal as nuclear arsenals are pared down.

Customer Reviews (2)

Fast review
Nuclear Energy: Principles, Practices, and ProspectsThis book offers a wide coverage of both, theory and application, of nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is treated as source of electrical power and as a weapon, with obvious distinction. The physical theory is easy but complete and serves as a good starting point to a wide set of applications that include electrical power production (with a good comparison of costs between nuclear and oter ways of producing electricity), research and weapon principles. All these subjects are explored rather deeply, along with their ramifications.
It is a good book, worth his prize.

Wonderful book
I am amazed that nobody wrote yet a review of this book.

I liked this book a lot. David Bodansky's style is logical, concise and fun to read. What I liked most is that the author succeeds to attack with equal clarity a wide range of diverse subjects about nuclear energy:
- Economic considerations on nuclear energy.
- The physics principles behind nuclear reactions, and their relevance in reactor design, etc.
- Engineering considerations around nuclear reactor design and operations
- Administrative considerations around waste disposal.

To conclude: if you have some background in physics, math and/or economy, and you need a no-nonsense introduction in the field of nuclear energy, then this book is for you. However, if you just like to read prose, (and you don't enjoy technical details being sprinkled during the exposition) then the book migth be too high-level. ... Read more

Product Description
The onset of the 21st century has coincided with mounting scientific evidence of the severe environmental impact of global energy consumption.In response, governments and environmentalists on every continent have begun to re-evaluate the benefits of nuclear power as a clean, non-emitting energy resource. Today nuclear power plants operate in some 30 countries, and nuclear energy has become a safe and reliable source of one-sixth of the world's electricity.This base has the potential to be expanded widely as part of a worldwide clean-energy revolution.

Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century is an authoritative resource for educators, students, policy-makers and interested lay-people.This balanced and accessible text provides:

* An inroad into nuclear science for the non-specialist
* A valuable account of many aspects of nuclear technology, including industry applications
* Answers to public concerns about safety, proliferation, and waste management
* Up-to-date data and references

This edition comes with a Foreword by Dr. Patrick Moore, co-founder of Greenpeace, which attests to today's worldwide re-evaluation of nuclear power.

The World Nuclear University (WNU) is a global partnership of industry, inter-governmental, and academic institutions committed to enhancing education in nuclear science and technology.WNU partners include the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the OECD, and the World Nuclear Association (WNA).With a secretariat staffed by government-sponsored secondees, the London-based WNU Coordinating Centre fosters a diversity of collaborative projects to strengthen nuclear education and rebuild future leadership in nuclear science and technology.

· Global in perspective and rich in data
· Draws on the intellectual resources of the World Nuclear Association
· Includes Physics of uranium; uranium enrichment; waste management
· Provides technical perspective with an understanding of environmental issues ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Concise, expert, comprehensive review of subject
There are some subjects -- such as the Middle East -- about which most of us know little or nothing, yet nearly all of us have strong, even passionate opinions.Nuclear energy is one of those subjects.Most of us know close to nothing about this highly technical subject, yet most of us have strong opinions, often strongly negative opinions based upon dim memories of Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.

This book presents the facts about nuclear power.It is a model book.I read a large number number of non-fiction books, so I am very familiar with their quality level.In my view, what makes for excellence in non-fiction is solid knowledge, relevant subject matter and concise writing.This book is a stand-out on all three levels. Hore-Lacy is an expert on virtually every aspect of nuclear power.He is also highly knowledgeable about other forms of energy.The subject is extremely relevant, given the ongoing debate over what forms of energy we should use in the future.Finally, the book is extremely concise.Although filled with charts and pictures, which cut down on text, the book is nonetheless just a bit over 150 pages.Ordinarily a book of that length would be light weight in its contents.Not this book.Even though it is short, it is packed with facts and insights.It contains more solid knowledge than many books three to four times its length.

The general conclusion of the book is that nuclear energy must be used far more in the future.It is safer, cheaper and far more abundant than any available alternative.It has dangers, of course, but, since they are very well-known, good, solid solutions to them have been carefully crafted.I think that this argument is sound.

If you want to know about nuclear energy, this book is an indispensable introduction.It is by far the best book out there on the subject.

A good review of current nuclear science
The general public has such a warped view of energy from nuclear reactors.This book is well written and presents an accurate picture of what is going on currently with the new generation nuclear reactors and the handling of nuclear waste.It should be required reading.

Excellent primer, excellent nuclear-101, very expansive
I agree this is one of the best, and most current, over-views of nuclear energy I have ever read. The fact that Ian Hore-Lacy includes the "front-end" and "back-end" of the nuclear fuel cycle is enlightening. Could I be so bold as to make (2) recommendations for improvement ?One - The statement on page 104 "The Viking and Rover landers on Mars depended on RTG power sources....."is not true. The existing, currently residing on Mars, Rovers Opportunity and Spirit are powered by solar energy ( however future versions are indeed planned to be nuclear powered ). Two - please check the grammer within the last sentence in the 2nd paragraph on page 79 .... "In future reprocessing is likely also to remove the long-lived transuranic elements.....". Other than these (2) small complaints - great job Ian and World Nuclear University Press.

Fantastic Review of Nuclear Energy
This book is extremely well written with lots of pictures and charts.

The first chapter deals with energy sources and demand. It points out that electricity is the most useful form of energy and demand for electricity is growing faster than demand for energy.

The second chapter deals with demand and supply for electricity given that it is extremely difficult and expensive to store. Within a day there can be a 20% variation in the demand and different fuels/sources are used to supply base load, and peak load demand. Coal and nuclear supply base load and gas turbines provide peak load. Renewables, such as solar and wind, are not suitable for either base load or peak load because they are intermittent ie they are available when the wind blows or the sun shines rather than all the time (base load) or when everyone wants electricity at the same time (peak load). There is a comparison of coal and nuclear for producing electricity. There is a comparison of the cost of electricity from various fuels in different countries and for the US over time.

Chapter three deals with nuclear power. How many nuclear reactors are there in the world and where are they. How much uranium is there in the world and where is it located. What is the physics of a reactor. How are reactors controlled.

Chapter four deals with the production of enriched uranium which serves as fuel. Uranium ore contains .7% U235 and 99.3% U238. Enriched U is 3% U235. Nuclear bomb grade uranium is 90% U235. This chapter includes a description of advanced reactors including passive safety systems which work without operator intervention or electricity. It describes High Temperature Reactors which can be used to produce hydrogen efficiently and fast neutron reactors which run on "nuclear waste" and could supply 100% of the US electricity needs for 1000 years using depleted uranium left over after enriching uranium. The Toshiba 4S, a nuclear battery, is a very small reactor which will run for 30 years without refueling or maintenance.

Chapter 5 deals with nuclear "waste". In 30 years, 100 nuclear plants, producing 20% of US electricity, have produced 66,000 tons of Waste. If nuclear waste is reprocessed, 98% of the waste can be used as fuel in fast neutron reactors; and a large percentage of the remaining 2% can be used as tracer isotopes in medical applications. It includes a graph showing that the radioactivity of nuclear waste declines below the radioactivity of uranium ore after 2000 years. The fission products comprising the 2% that can't be recycled into the reactor, falls below uranium ore radioactivity after 400 years. There is a description of how nuclear reactors are decommissioned.

Chapter 6 is a description of application of nuclear reactors other than the production of electricity. Hydrogen production for use as a transportation fuel is a major future use. Reactor heat that is not used to produce electricity when the demand is low can be used to produce hydrogen.Nuclear reactors can also be used to convert sea water into fresh water. It can also be used to power ships and space vehicles. And to produce radioisotopes used as tracer in medical diagnosis.

Chapter seven covers the environment, health and safety issued. It discusses greenhouse gas emissions, a comparison of deaths during the production of electricity, a list of the 10 serious reeactor event world wide since 1952.

Chapter 8 deals with avoiding weapons proliferation and chapter 9 provides a history of nuclear energy.

All in all, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in nuclear energy. While it doesn't take any position of nuclear energy issues, it does provide well rounded coverage with lots of facts.

Fabulous Nuclear Primer
This book by the World Nuclear University Press is a terrifically well crafted primer on the whole topic of nuclear energy and other nuclear technologies.For someone interested in facts, not ideology, this is a fine piece of literature.I am told that the WNU uses this book as a background text in its annual 6-week summer programme in Oxford which is designed to develop a cadre of responsible future leaders for the global nuclear industry. ... Read more

Product Description
Nuclear Energy is one of the most popular texts ever published on basic nuclear physics, systems, and applications of nuclear energy.This newest edition continues the tradition of offering a holistic treatment of everything the undergraduate engineering student needs to know in a clear and accessible way. Presented is a comprehensive overview of radioactivity, radiation protection, nuclear reactors, waste disposal, and nuclear medicine.

. New coverage on nuclear safety concerns following 9/11, including radiation and terrorism, nuclear plant security, and use of nuclear techniques to detect weapons materials
. New facts on nuclear waste management, including the Yucca Mountain repository
. New developments in the use of nuclear-powered systems for generating cheap and abundant hydrogen from water using nuclear technology
. New information on prospects for new nuclear power reactors and their applications for electricity and desalination
. New end-of-chapter Exercises and Answers, lists of Internet resources, and updated references.
. New instructor web site including Solutions to Exercises and PowerPoint slides
. New student web site containing computer programs for use with Computer Exercises ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Good Introduction To Nuclear Concepts
"Nuclear Energy" by Raymond L. Murray now has a sixth edition available, and while I read and am reviewing the fifth edition, I encourage anyone who wants to read this generally fine book to obtain the latest edition. In this volume Murray covers a very broad swath of information, focusing on nuclear processes and civilian nuclear power, but also delving into international aspects of nuclear power, nuclear explosions and armaments, future uses of nuclear power, regulatory issues, and waste disposal. Each chapter is well formulated, and I especially appreciated the concise summaries at the end of chapters.

I found the chapters on nuclear processes to be the best in the book, and particularly enjoyed chapter 12, "Heat Generation and Removal," and found his explanation of nucleate boiling, film boiling, and departure from nucleate boiling ratio" (DNBR, p. 151) to be the most comprehensible I have ever read in an introductory text. I read the book to enhance my understanding of commercial fission reactors mostly to grasp engineered safety systems in operational reactors. In that vein, some sections of the book are a bit esoteric, although still interesting. For instance, some of the discussion in the section 14.6, "Prospects For Fusion" (p.188) goes into such things as the compact stellarator, spherical torus, reversed field pinch, spheromak, floating multipole, and z-pinch concepts in the discussion of magnetic fusion focused on the tokamak mode. My critique isn't that the material is bad, but that most readers of the book are focused on much more basic information. The fusion discussion is by no means a waste overall though, and I particularly liked the inclusion of a quote from fusion pioneer Lyman Spitzer on p. 190 that justifies the entire research discipline: "A fifty percent probability of getting a power source that would last a billion years is worth a great deal of enthusiasm." Brilliant.

While most of the book is very well written, I found isolated sections to be very confusing, particularly section 17.7, "Neutron Activation Analysis," which I re-read several times and still struggled with. Hopefully this has been fixed in the sixth edition, though thankfully these weaker areas are relatively rare. As an aside, some of the exercises require mathematical leaps most people will be unable to make unless the material is taught more in-depth in a classroom environment. This can prove frustrating.

Chapter 22, "Radioactive Waste Disposal," is one of the most important in the book, and also a subject that has drastically changed since this edition was written, most recently with the decision of the Obama administration with the support of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Senator Harry Reid of Nevada to terminate the Yucca Mountain facility with no plan whatsoever to provide an alternate facility. This latest government boondoggle puts politics over scientific validity, but that comes as no surprise, as Murray points out the failure of Jimmy Carter's equally naive political views on nuclear proliferation and reprocessing on p. 343: "Concern about international proliferation of nuclear weapons prompted President Carter in 1977 to issue a ban on reprocessing. It was believed that if the U.S. refrained from reprocessing, it would set an example to other countries. The action had no effect, since the U.S. had made no real sacrifice, having abundant uranium and coal reserves, but countries lacking resources saw full utilization of uranium in their best interests." Of course by eliminating the prospect of reprocessing, Carter committed the U.S. to a "once through" nuclear power system with much greater waste issues to deal with than would occur were reprocessing to be implemented.

Chapter 23, "Laws, Regulations, and Organizations," is of key importance to understanding the industry, and I especially appreciated the information on Performance-Based regulation (pp. 367-368) in the discussion of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. I likewise found the information on the "Institute of Nuclear Power Operations" (INPO) on pp. 370-373 to be excellent. (For more information on INPO I refer readers to the excellent book "Hostages of Each Other" by Joseph Rees.) The country-by-country overview of nuclear power capabilities in chapter 25 is an excellent resource, but is now quite out of date; I'm sure the sixth edition will provide an excellent updated version of the data. Chapter 26, "Nuclear Explosions," tackles militarized nuclear systems, and is generally good, though there are some utopian visions expressed that have no place in a book of this nature, most notably in the summary on p. 435: "In addition to continued efforts to reduce the stockpile of armaments, to secure workable treaties, and utilize technology to provide protection, there is an urgent need to eliminate all the unfavorable conditions-social, economic, and cultural-that prompt conflict in the world." Yeah, that'll happen.

Overall I like the book and while some of the material is a tad esoteric for presentation in an introductory book, the enormity of the subject is generally dealt with quite well by Mr. Murray, and I recommend the book for readers with a serious interest in the subject matter.

nuclear book
The book binding was in bad shape when I received it however I believe that is due to shipping constraints.Overall a good experience.

Good introduction to nuclear energy
This introduction to nuclear physics is very clear and covers all the essential elements.

A student's perspective
This was used as the textbook for my introduction to nuclear engineering class. While the information as present and relevant, it is presented in a meandering way that doesn't tell you what's important. The problems presented at the end of each chapter expect you to remember numbers and formulas that may have only been mentioned in passing 7 chapters ago. Further, each step of the problems has been rounded, making the final answer very different from that gained by simply doing the entire equation all at once. This may have been understandable when the first edition was written, but we have progressed significantly beyond the slide-rule, and the new generation of nuclear engineers is operating with much more sophisticated technology. The available instructor's answer guide to the problems does not even give the location of equations and numbers, nor is there a comprehensive appendix with all forumlas and numbers.

I thought it was wonderful
it was incredable it was pack full of information it was great for my project I recamend it to anyone ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Makes the case for nuclear power
Although written in 1990, the information in this book is still useful and accurate.As the debate over whether to build more nuclear power plants rages, Dr. Cohen provide clear reasoning as to why we need to revive this clean, safe, and powerful source of base load electric power.He also provides convincing evidence of why the Yucca Mountain site is a safe repository for spent nuclear fuel.

Best book on nuclear power, period.
This got to be one of the best books written about nuclear power ever! I have been in the industry for couple years and I must say that Dr. Cohen has done a superb job in presenting the technical info for ordinary people to grasp. Every issues raised by the environmentalists were fairly analyzed and the facts clearly showed that nuclear power is best option to meet the energy demand of the future. I highly doubt that there is a book out there that can do better job than this one in term of providing an unbiased & fair perspective on the positives and negatives of nuclear power & others energy sources.If you want to learn about nuclear power, get this book, you will not be disappointed even though it was written in the '90 much of the content s are extremely still relevant today.

The Nuclear Energy Option
The "The Nuclear Energy Option" is one of the best books I have read on a technical subject. Cohen is a master at analyzing complex subjects and expressing them in a way that most people can understand.

The book addresses the biases that have led the US to an energy policy that favors high-cost and environmentally dangerous methods to generate power (coal, and yes, alternative energy such as solar cells) and that discourages low-cost, environmentally safe methods such as nuclear.

If you still think that nuclear power is dangerous, then do yourself a favor and read the book. The fear that the public has about nuclear power generation and waste disposal is not supported by the facts. Our TV and print media have done a disservice in the poor and biased reporting that have strongly influenced our public policy as well as our perceptions.

Cohen gives us a common "measuring stick" to compare alternative methods of power generation in terms of cost and safety to the public and the environment.
... Read more

Product Description
Examines the discovery and creation of nuclear energy, its uses, both beneficial and destructive, and the hazards of radioactive waste. Includes related activities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

very nice book
I teach chemistry to college students with low or no science background. Even this book is for children (and so not for students in the same age than mine!), this book was very helpfull introducing a background about the history, negative and, more important, the positive aspects of nuclear energy. I really liked the aspect graphic of the book and simplicity of language and recommend as support material.

Excellent book
This book provides an unbiased, simple, well-illustrated explanation of nuclear energy that is both informative and interesting.Although it is written for children, adults should enjoy it as well. ... Read more

Product Description

The three volumes VIII/3A, B, C of Energy Technologies should primarily serve scientists, engineers, and students to gain information on physical, chemical, and technical properties of all technologies to provide, convert, distribute, store, and finally use energy. They are supplemented with economic background information and with specific concepts, to allow the reader a proper comparison of different energy technologies. In this way these volumes on energy technologies should help human society pave the way towards sufficient and environmentally safe provision and use of energy. The various contributions have been written by experts from all around the globe working in universities, public research institutions, and private industrial companies.

Customer Reviews (18)

Informative and useful
This book, while quite hard to get into, has benefited me greatly. I now have a nuclear powered hair dryer to present to my mother at Christmas. Even at the slightly over-the-top price, this book is still a winner. I will never have to buy batteries or oil again!

Seems expensive, but knowledge is priceless.
From the moment I started reading this fascinating piece of literature I constantly would ask myself one question..."Is this worth the $6,000 I just spent?".In a word, yes.Sure, the price may ward off some people but when you break it down, it's only a bit over $10 per page.You can't see a movie anymore for $10.As you read the ins and outs of boiling water reactors, pressurized steam reactors, and a multitude of new advancements in the world of nuclear energy, you'll quickly forget that you could have gone to Europe, bought a decent used Harley, or even a well equipped man cave instead.Buy it.Right now.

Price Is Too Cheap
I almost bought the book for $6076.20. But then I started feeling guilty about the $1,713.80 savings I would get from buying the Kindle edition and I decided not to make the purchase.

They're Listening!
After all this time, Amazon and the publishers are listening to our $6999.99 boycott!To show my pleasure and to reward them for doing so, Ipurchased this book.

The first couple of chapters were slow and went over the basics of nuclear energy that I learned in the 4th grade.However, by chapter 3, the pace really started to pick up and I could. not. put. it. down!The suspense was killing me!

I now have about half a reactor built in my backyard and am waiting a delivery from Home Depot and Bed, Bath and Beyond to finalize the construction.

When it is completed, I will drink from the pool, as illustrated in chapter 13, in order to obtain great strength so that I may, once and for all, pound my older brother in to the sand with my pinkie finger, as I threatened to do all those years ago, for putting me in a headlock and slugging me in the gut.

Thank you, Landolt and Bornstein!You helped one girl get her revenge!

Poorly Written.. Was this thing even edited?
Stumbled across this book and thought, "You gotta be kidding me." After I laughed my way through the reviews, I click over to the hard cover version to do the "Look Inside" thing.

All I can say is this:
Was this book even edited? The second sentence of the first chapter sounds like someone NON-ENGLISH attempting English!

And I quote, "Since long time before mankind started to develop technologies to provide engery from fusion of light atomic nuclei and from fission of heavy atomic nuclei, nature has been releasing energy from fusion and fission processes: Fusion of hydrogen to helium nuclei is the energy source of the stars like the sun."

Since long time...?

There is so much more going wrong with this overly long sentence, I will leave it at that.

Since long time...

hahahaha

Makes me think of "Full Metal Jacket" ... "me love you long time..."

lol

... Read more

Product Description
In A Brighter Tomorrow, Pete V. Domenici, the senior Republican Senator from New Mexico, has written a thoughtful and, at times, provocative assessment of nuclear power in the United States. He outlines what went wrong and why, and shares his vision and passion for a renewed commitment by this nation, and the rest of the world, to the dreams that nuclear energy can help fulfill. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Some Good Points!
Senator Domenici believes that most opposition to nuclear power plants is emotional and uninformed. For example, nuclear power plants in U.S. submarines dock regularly around the world without objection (except one port in New Zealand), France generates about 80% of its electric power from nuclear plants and reprocesses the fuel to reduce the amount of waste by a factor of four, and transporting an equivalent amount of fuel to a coal-fired plant involves 14,000 times more motive power.

"A Brighter Tomorrow" also informs us that nuclear power requires only 1/120th the land of wind or solar power; the fuel cost for nuclear generated power is only 26% of the total, vs. 85% for natural gas.

Hopefully efforts by Senator Domenici will succeed in reducing our reliance on carbon-based energy sources, thereby reducing air pollution, global warming, reliance on the mid-East, indirect subsidization of terrorism, need for U.S. military involvement in the mid-East, and vulnerability to oil production declines predicted to occur within ten years. (Yes, little electricity is used for transportation - however, Domenici sees the possibility of generating hydrogen for autos from nuclear power plants.)

problems with a brighter tomorrow (nuclear energy)
I like Pete.He's good for NM; but, don't read this book if you want "the whole truth" about nuclear power costs/benefits in our future.Do read it if you want to understand Pete, U.S. Legislative "dealing" andbad science represented as good science.

Your first indication should be Pete's calculation of why it's OK for him to have 8 kids in a global population glut.If he can't get his allocation to be 5, as an ex math teacher, that tells you the quality of the rest of his calculations.(And is he allocating a "baby permit market" here?No he really didn't think that far--which is another problem.)

That he projects world population through and beyond the carrying capacity of the planet is a problem too.The lack of "proper treatment" of externalized costs (haven't heard of them?THATS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM--HE DOESN'T DEAL WITH THEM), concerns me a lot.

I have seen Pete be easily swayded, and most of the rest of the Congressional types are just as easily swayed, by partial "techie" demos many a time.This work shows its cumulative effect!

The proper sequence for validating future offerings in science and engineering goes: completed science, then technology development (proper RDT&E, a common acronym that needs to be more widely known and used that stands for the sequence of Research, Development, Test and Evaluation), then engineering proof of viability, then commercial proof of viability, then system analysis (another unspoken of item of "sane science legislation), then and only then to Pete's "rules for proceeding" (legislatively I assume he means)!

Certainly read his book for info on Pete and Congressional practices, then be usre to read more of the rest of the future nuclear energy "world story" though.

But why Subsidies
A Brighter Tomorrow, Fulfilling the Promise of Nuclear Energy
Senator Pete V. Domenici with Blythe J. Lyons and Julian J Steyn
Rowman and Littlefield, USA 2004

There are many reasons to be grateful to Senator Domenici for writing this book.Nuclear power provides inexpensive electricity and heat when and where you need it without demanding trainloads of coal or tankers of oil or gas to feed the power plant.Nuclear fuel, with its essential U-235 is one million times as energy rich as coal, and we have abundant supplies remaining in the USA.

Who could explain the extraordinary safety record of nuclear power, yet the inordinate fear of nuclear power plants?It does not make sense.Senator Domenici sees clearly and throughout the book explains his efforts to do what is right, not what is fashionable.Unfortunately fashion has ruled and today, despite the great success and proven safety of nuclear power, we have no new power plants.Instead we have unfounded fears and smug empty-headed victors threatening to unfound other parts of our economy.They frighten the public away from nuclear power by convincing the public that because a lot of radiation can kill people rapidly a little radiation spread around the globe will surely kill millions slowly.This isn't true.Our schools and newspapers should do as Senator Domenici recommends, try and spread what is true.Radiationnear our nuclear power plants and submarines is safe. In fact, it probably prolongs life.We creatures thrive in low levels of radiation.There is a word for it, Hormesis, and many studies of the phenomenon.Today, understanding that radiation does not lead to doom is as important as knowing the world is round, not flat.

Reading A Brighter Tomorrow is made difficult by replacing names with initials.Who can remember the dozens and dozens of code initials?IAEA, NTI, HEU, FSU.I picked these off a page opened at random, page 146.If the words were spelled out, the book would only be a page or two longer and the reader would understand what he was reading.

I would recommend that the senator do a second edition with a chapter explaining what goes on in a nuclear reactor, how elements are transformed and heat generated.But Senator Domenici is up to something so destructive I worry how we will fare with or without nuclear power.Free enterprise is evidently now a thing of the past.Senator Domenici, in the first ten chapters convinces the reader that nuclear power is economical.Then on chapter 11, page 215, he states that he tirelessly supports a 1.8¢ / kWh tax credit for new nuclear power plants. (He also supports the same subsidy for solar and wind power)Multiply it out for yourself.On page 207 read that we need 335 GWE of new power plants (I presume subsidized nuclear).At 1.8¢ per kWh the product is $6,030,000 per hour.

Five thousand hours of that in a year is thirty billion dollars!Senator Domenici will rob us blind.What can he be thinking?Those who use the electricity should pay for it.If it is bad for us to burn fossil fuels then let's raise the price of doing so, not arrange subsidies for certain favored alternatives.

Lobbyists and politicians must worry that raising prices might cause our appetite for electricity to slacken; that we will turn the lights off in the day and hang the clothes on clotheslines.Thus, they plan to have taxes pay for our power. So, we'll know we better use it because we already paid for it.

I love this book - Senator Domenici has my vote!
Senator Domenici has written a compelling story, one that will give you an insider's view of the politics and history of nuclear energy in America.A brighter tomorrow - fulfilling the promise of nuclear energy is a must read for anyone who cares about energy independence.The book is also a good read if you just want to know what happened to nuclear energy development in the USA.

Pete Domenici has written more than just a history of nuclear energy - he also tells us about the current efforts in Congress to revitalize the nuclear industry.The need for nuclear energy today cannot be overstated, because it is the only proven, emission free energy source that can provide reliable baseload electricity to our national grid.

Imagine if you could fill the gas tank in you car once, and then drive continuously for a full year without needing to fill up again.That is what nuclear fuel does for a nuclear power plant.This means that nuclear energy is not vulnerable to the problems of short term price swings created by spikes in demand. Nuclear energy will never suffer the fuel shortages and price swings that threaten power plants that are dependent on natural gas.

In this book, Senator Pete Domenici, who is the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, describes what he believes would be the solution to the problem of nuclear waste.Only the most fearful and foolish people believe technology has reached its limits.It is self-evident that technology will advance beyond our present capabilities.Many futurists would say that is an understatement. Because scientific knowledge is growing geometrically, it is certain that future technology will be capable of reducing or eliminating the dangers of nuclear waste.

The Senator has proposed that spent nuclear fuel be transferred from the nuclear plant on site storage pools, to a federal interim storage site where it would be kept above ground for the next 50 to 75 years - Safely guarded and available for research.During that 50-75 years extensive investment in reprocessing and transmutation technology will advance to the point where spent nuclear fuel will no longer be considered a problem.The radioactivity can be changed so that it decays to the level of natural uranium in less than 500 years, rather than thousands of years.And the total volume, which is already small by comparison to any other type of waste, would be less than 5% of the volume removed from a power plant today, because of advanced fuel reprocessing.

Senator Domenici cites Dr. Denis Beller's essay, Atomic Time Machines. The essay can be found on the internet at AmericanEnergyIndependence.com in the nuclear section where it is title "back to the nuclear future".Dr. Beller describes the technology, called Transmutation, which can neutralize radioactive material.

I think the book gave a fair and accurate description of the anti-nuclear groups. The Senator exposes the deceptive practices of the anti-nuclear groups.Nuclear energy is not a right-wing conspiracy. Congressional support for nuclear energy is a bipartisan initiative, one that includes support from Democrats and prominent environmentalists:

"Environmental opposition to nuclear energy is the greatest misunderstanding and mistake of the century."
-James Lovelock, leading environmentalist, creator of the Gaia theory.

I believe if John Muir were alive today, he would join James Lovelock and Senator Domenici in support of nuclear energy. John Muir was not afraid of technology. He would have understood that nuclear energy is a technology that can help preserve our natural wilderness and at the same time help to advance economic progress.

Make Energy Not War

Future wars could be prevented if everyone who has taken a stand against the war in Iraq would turn their passion toward the goal of American Energy Independence. Standing against war is not enough - Standing together for Energy Independence will create a positive political force and a shared national dream - Peace through energy independence.

Nuclear energy is vital to fulfill the promise of energy independence.
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Product Description
An innovative series which illustrates to students how the science they are studying is relevant to their everyday lives and the world around them. This series features case studies providing real-world examples, and includes profiles of scientists, their research and careers information. It considers the ethical issues behind key science topics, and key concepts and examples are highlighted in panels throughout the text helping students access information easily. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This is a very well written, concise overview of nuclear power, global warming and our energy crisis for the young student
Nuclear power is a climate friendly source of energy.Electricity is also a form of energy that you probably use every day.You use it when you turn on the television, talk on the phone or turn on a light."Electricity is a form of energy" as is nuclear power.When atoms are split apart to make smaller atoms energy is released.You can't see atoms, but even so they "have huge amounts of energy."There is a great deal of potential energy stored in atoms and when they split they are in motion and have kinetic energy.Nuclear power is produced by creating a controlled chain reaction.

This book talks about different sources of energy, renewable and nonrenewable and where they come from.We have at our disposal fossil fuels, but they are "nonrenewable resources" that cause pollution and contribute to global warming. Nuclear power is a renewable resource and in non-polluting.This book talks about and explains how nuclear power works, the role of nuclear power in our future, the dangers it poses (Chernobyl) and its benefits.

This is a very well written, concise overview of nuclear power, global warming and our energy crisis for the young student.The book is bright, appealing and colorful with numerous photographs.In the back of the book is a glossary, an index and additional recommended book and web site resources.This book would be an excellent choice for the homeschool or classroom shelves. ... Read more