Talks on nuclear power revived in Washington as climate changes - By Chris Mulick, Mid Columbia Tri City Herald, WA
People are talking about nuclear power for the first time in a quarter-century -- without using cuss words. The national debate over climate change has brought nuclear to the forefront during discussions about how to add baseload generating capacity without emitting more carbon dioxide. There's even talk in the largely anti-nuclear Northwest, where previous forays bombed in a big, expensive way.
'It's on the table, let's put it that way, for the first time in many years,' said Jeff King, a senior resource analyst for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. 'I'd regard that as a significant change. It's gone from being a total pariah ... to something that may be needed.'
Could a new reactor actually get built here? The signals are mixed at best.