A Clean and Stable Source of Energy

Some states are moving to further limit fossil-fuel emissions from power plants, but without creating a regulatory environment to encourage major alternatives to coal-powered electricity, this is not helpful in the long term. In the Sun Times, University of Illinois engineering professor Barclay G. Jones had this to say:

Electricity production from coal, oil and natural gas accounts for 40 percent of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions.

On the other hand, nuclear power, which provides 20 percent of the nation's electricity, is the only major energy source that is carbon-free.....nuclear power has a key role to play in stabilizing and ultimately reducing greenhouse emissions......

In fact, a number of utilities, mainly in the Southeast, are preparing to apply for licenses to construct and operate as many as 16 new nuclear power plants. Even in the Midwest, where coal provides most of the electricity, nuclear power is drawing new interest.

Sounds like a very good idea, especially in Illinois, if we want to continue to clean up our air, yet have a stable source of electricity.