The pen is mightier than the sword

What made me ponder on this was reading an article about the Vogtle Nuclear Power Station. Not that this article contained anything new. really.

Anyone who has bothered to take an interest in this station would probably know that it is the largest power station in the USA, and the only one with 4 reactors. It was designed and eventually built by Westinghouse (which went bankrupt in the process). Southern Nuclear, and later Georgia Power took over the costs, helped by federal loan guarantees up to $12 billion. It was expanded over 11 years at a cost of $36.8 billion.

So - reams have been published about all this. Noticeably high in jargon, are stories about Vogtle's energy benefits, how it "helps climate action". There are also many articles criticising the costs, and financial arrangements, and some of these also give complicated details, that are not easy to read.

So - today's article? "Welcome to Planet Vogtle! The Lessons of Georgia’s Nuclear Boondoggle."

Well, it is written in easily readable and witty language. Some of the writer's ideas are novel - but true, too! - "A global race is on to see who will host the next nuclear disaster, and as always the U.S.A. is determined to take the lead"  " record-breaking profits for utility companies, record-breaking power bills for the rest of us." “nuclear waste factories like Vogtle "

But within the forceful and witty language, the writer has demolished the nuclear industry's claims of benefits - about being "economic" "clean" "safe" "low emissions" and noted its euphemisms - like "disposal" of nuclear wastes.

The article actually compresses “Plant Vogtle: The True Cost of Nuclear Power in the United States,” a 35-page report exposing the political maneuvering and cynical profiteering that made the Vogtle project a “success.”

So - although I did enjoy the writing style - this is one article that does both - gives the information, and a bit of fun to read. And the writer sure isn't scared to give his opinion! Which is good fun. I'm sick of everyone worthily trying to give "balance"

If you've waded through stuff about the nuclear industry, whether the stuff is pro or con, it is so refreshing to come upon something that is a pleasure to read.

And if you had any doubts about the whole pro nuclear push being crooked - this Plant Vogtle article should clear up those doubts.