Peaceful Atom

Small wonder the death knell of new U.S. nukes may be upon us. Two reactors proposed for Florida will now, say its would-be builders, cost $24 billio...

The likelihood that any specific nuclear power plant reactor will melt down may be slim indeed, but to act as though nuclear risks are limited to the operation of power plants is misleading in the extreme.

For years reactor backers have touted the "Pebble Bed" design as an "inherently safe" alternative to traditional models. Now its South African developers say they're done pouring money into it.

Areva hopes to build similar reactors in the US. Its boosters have promised cheaper, cleaner, faster nuke construction with standardized designs.

It's painfully clear that history's most expensive failed technology is not going away without a long, hard fight.

Cut off from Wall Street, hordes of nuke lobbyists will descend like radioactive locusts on this gargantuan stimulus package. They must be stopped.