The Daily Freeman has a long story today about GOP Congressman Chris Gibson's ambition to site a new nuclear power plant in his upstate New York district.
Gibson is working to create a bipartisan energy advisory panel that will consider ways to promote all types of power in his district, including renewables such as wind, power and solar. However, one nuclear plant would provide far more electricity than all other types of electricity combined. “I think nuclear power is the source that’s going to give us access to the abundance of power we need,” he said.
It would be an uphill battle against steep local opposition, the story notes; no new nuclear power plants have been built in the U.S. since 1979. But with the need for non-fossil-fuel energy sources intensifying and the threat of climate change looming larger, nuclear is looking ever more possible. And then there's the economy:
Spokeswoman Stephanie Valle said Gibson is cognizant of strong opposition to previous local projects, while adding that technological advancements combined with current economic conditions could make nuclear power more attractive to people now.
“Times have changed,” she said. “It’s sort of a different game than it was 30 to 40 years ago.”
