Power Sources

* It is incomprehensible that we are forcing electric utilities to purchase unreliable and expensive wind power while we essentially have a ban on building future nuclear plants (“Green Energy Is Getting Its Second Wind,” Sept. 12). The optimistic forecast is to have 10% of the nation’s power coming from wind 30 years from now. Does that mean we will get 90% from coal, oil and natural gas--all polluting sources that produce greenhouse gases as well?

Nuclear power today supplies over 20% of the nation’s electricity, even on the calm, hot days that leave wind generators idle. And it does so without emitting air pollutants or carbon dioxide. It would make a lot more sense to be thinking about new designs for another generation of nuclear generating units that could be cost-competitive and even safer than those operating today.

EDWIN A. KARLOW PhD

Chair, Department of Physics

La Sierra University, Riverside