Nuclear power plant could greatly benefit this state

Ed Dornlas, Las Vegas

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.

I was not surprised, but still disappointed, to read that a Las Vegas Sun editorial Tuesday, “A shortsighted vision,” looked unfavorably on the prospect of a nuclear energy generation plant to be located in Ely.

As tireless advocates of the dangers of global warming (aka climate change), I would have hoped that the editorial board would have adopted a leadership position that would recognize that the potential for jobs, training in nuclear fields by the local universities, and the virtually unlimited carbon-free electricity to power Nevada’s homes and industries would have overridden the fears that have held back nuclear energy since the 1970s.

There are certainly many difficulties to be overcome, but perhaps it’s time for those who fear climate change to make some real-world decisions. Will our energy-based economy move forward with clean, carbon-free power, or will our living standards be dialed back to, say, the 1940s?

Much of Europe has not had the luxury of our power sources and has gotten along nicely with nuclear power for many years — it seems about time that we join them.