A Brighter Tomorrow: Fulfilling the Promise of Nuclear Energy

By Pete V. Domenici

The book takes a proactive and, at times, provocative look at nuclear power and argues that it is the source of energy for the future of the United States. Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-New Mexico) will argue that after weighing the costs and benefits of all other legitimate forms of energy production (coal, oil, wind, hydro) nuclear power will not only reduce American dependence on the Middle East oil but it is the most "green" source. Domenici is the primary author and sponsor of the energy bill weaving its way through the Senate-the nuclear energy portion of the bill will, among other things, assist in the financing of the construction of three new nuclear power plants (the first in 30 years). Sprinkled throughout this otherwise serious book will be 30 years worth of anecdotes and insights into the personalities behind the political process and policymaking.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0742541886
• ISBN13: 9780742541887
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

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-