Small reactors of current design should be a safe and reliable power source. We've learned a lot since the reactors of the 50s and 60s.

 

I used to work for Westinghouse Nuclear that built and serviced nuclear power plants. This kind of thing has long been seen as the path forward for clean, plentiful and independent electrical power. I hope the Army's example catches on. The future belongs to countries that have the strongest power grids. The US is way behind in this area. China, India and parts of Europe are way ahead of us.

 

Target rich opportunities. What could possibly go wrong.

 

I think it is a great idea. If they can make their own electricity that will cut down on how much fuel will need to be transported to out of the way bases.
Fuel for vehicles, planes and ships. Keeping bases operational even if the sea lanes are compromised.

 

Great idea. The technology exists and is proven safe, reliable, clean, and economical. The big obstacles appear to be the NIMBY crowd and political interests.

It seems to me that the challenges involved in powering aircraft carriers (a floating mid-size city) and submarines for months and years of continual service with acceptable safety in operation are more daunting than powering a modern industrial city, and we have been doing that continuously since the 1960s. Any one of those naval vessels is potentially capable of pulling into a pier to connect with a local grid and providing basic electrical needs for a small to mid-size city.

The interstate highway system was conceived and built as a Defense Department project. Massive expense over the past six decades, but huge benefits for both defense needs and civilian commerce. To this day the military still has absolute priority in use of the interstate highways, something that would cause huge public reaction if invoked, but I have heard of no such issues.

Why not a joint defense/civilian venture with an eye toward eventually connecting every power grid in the country, providing defense needs as first priority, with connectivity to local and regional facilities? Military deployment needs could be met with portable units, some of which already exist in operational form.

Proven capabilities and experience, security assets exceeding any others. I'm liking this idea.

 

Might be a tough sell with many foreign countries.

 

True. Maybe almost as tough as being dropped from all US foreign aid programs and defense treaties, maybe being placed on the US State Department "do not travel" list, denying entry to the US for any of their diplomats, college students, business interests, export goods, etc.

 

Within the last decade it was revealed that the VA hospital in Omaha had a small nuclear reactor on site. Can't tell you much more than that but a few miles from my home there was a nuclear reactor without the knowledge of the general public.

Just read up on it and the reactor was used for medical research not a power supply. Still interesting to read up on and know these little reactors were all over the country.

Object 57: Omaha VA Hospital Nuclear Reactor - VA History

In August 1945, the United States detonated atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending World War II and ushering in the dawn of the Atomic Age. Two years later, the Veterans Administrations started harnessing this technology for a very different purpose—to conduct...

department.va.gov

 

Within the last decade it was revealed that the VA hospital in Omaha had a small nuclear reactor on site. Can't tell you much more than that but a few miles from my home there was a nuclear reactor without the knowledge of the general public.

Just read up on it and the reactor was used for medical research not a power supply. Still interesting to read up on and know these little reactors were all over the country.

Object 57: Omaha VA Hospital Nuclear Reactor - VA History

In August 1945, the United States detonated atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending World War II and ushering in the dawn of the Atomic Age. Two years later, the Veterans Administrations started harnessing this technology for a very different purpose—to conduct...

department.va.gov

Nothing new. There are nuclear reactors including small research reactors everywhere. Far too many to my liking.

 

For overseas bases where power delivery to the base could be a point of leverage, I can see the appeal of having what amounts to uninterruptible power on-base. Or far less likely to get interrupted. Assuming of course that the design is reliable, securely-installed and manned, that there's backups to potential failure, etc.

For hospitals, too, I can see the allure. Particularly in areas prone to local power outages. Imagine being on life-support but reliant on only on the UPS power generation, but the outage is an extended one (ie, following hurricanes, ice storms and the like).

I doubt we'll see it within our lifetimes, but who knows: "Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor" (of Back To The Future fame). Ahhh, to have home power without all the little bumps of spotty utility company power delivery ...

 

Am I wrong thinking there is nuclear waste from any reactor and requires disposal?

 

Deleted due to dead link.

 

OK, I was just messing around...yes is the reply to the question. So we going green by burying nuclear waste? I guess going green is not the reason...$$$$ rule.
What about a rocket filled with the waste headed to the sun? Might be a bit risky to launch that.

 

Every form of energy has waste that must be dealt with sooner or later. Atomic/radioactive waste. Wind/ fan blades that do not decompose. Lithium batteries ,Fossil fuel, you got the idea.
Just have to figure out what gives you the biggest ROI. What is most efficient. Nuclear does have a pretty safe track record and it's come a long way.

 

There are no solutions, only tradeoffs. (Thomas Sowell)

 

Hey where do I get one of these little reactors for my property??? Government subsidized of course 😋

 

When we get those Jetson's flying cars. Not in our lifetime Amigo.

 

 

There are at least a couple dozen nuclear reactors at universities in the U.S. We had two at Texas A&M.

 

I support the idea that a little nukie never hurt anybody. I used to have a t-shirt that said that, I think. The largest obstacle to a fuller implementation of nuclear power generation would be the self-described heroic and intellectual superiors of our country...you know, the Democrats.