In the Oct. 2 guest column ”Backroom deals, false climate fixes,” there is a strong attack on nuclear power generation, saying “Nuclear power is not clean. It is absolutely filthy.”

There are no carbon emissions in operation, the carbon issue is the mining, milling, refining, processing, and transporting the fuel. Maybe there should be equal attacks against solar and wind power and electric vehicles because of what is involved in making the batteries they need. I know the average person doesn’t think about it, but these power sources need huge battery banks to provide power when needed, such as a calm night.

The scale of these batteries requires a lot of carbon released in making them. EV cars require large batteries and the life expectancy of them is not very long.

The other issue raised is with radiation. There is no threat from “standard operations” to people living near these plants. The threat comes from the fuel when it is spent and must be disposed of. This waste is never treated like ordinary trash and sent to a dump; it gets special care and is sent to places specifically designed and managed for it.

A potential solution would be the the mini reactor under development. It is small and needs no cooling water, so can be put in most buildings. It will be produced in factories and shipped via normal trucks. It uses a different fuel that is not only more friendly to produce but also recyclable.

Lee Armstrong

Northampton