Our elected representatives want us to depend on renewable energy development – wind, hydro, wood, solar and conservation – as the way to supply Maine’s electric needs. Those sources provide less then 8 percent of the electricity nationally, and less than 3 percent in Maine. It takes 200-plus square miles of wind generators to produce the 1,000 megawatts of one old, small nuclear plant. That approach will fail.

Worldwide, there are 435 nuclear plants, with 104 operating in the USA. Only France and Denmark are installing the newest generation-four nuclear plants that utilize all fuel except maybe a thimble-full yearly that has a half-life of between 80 and 400 years. Currently, our nuclear plants utilize less than 3 percent of the fuel, storing 97 percent as waste that has a half-life of 100,000-plus years.

In the new plants, our old stored waste will be used as fuel for the next 500 years, phasing out fossil fuel plants and most other methods as obsolete. No waste problems.

The U.S. should be building those now.

Lobbyists are drooling for continued oil, gas and coal use, owning our legislatures. Our grandchildren will spit on our graves if we settle for yesterday’s technology.

Our representatives have a responsibility to educate themselves, then motivate us by legislating bills inspiring education for the new choices of the 21st century, exactly as the French have done.

For more information, I recommend Gwynbeth Cravens’ “Power To Save The World.”

Lenny Powers,

Albany Township