McCain’s wrong on nuclear power

Re “Obama’s next stop: the home front,” July 27

The Times reports that John McCain urged Barack Obama to note that France gets 80% of its electricity from nuclear power. What McCain failed to note are the series of radioactive leaks into rivers and underground water in France that have occurred in the last few weeks and the contamination that more than 100 French employees have suffered.

Perhaps if McCain had the personal experience that I had with nuclear power, he would know more about the dangers to the public of radioactive meltdowns, cost overruns, lack of waste disposal sites and the risk of a terrorist attack on the plant. For all these reasons, nuclear power is to be avoided.

S. David Freeman

Former Chairman

Tennessee Valley Authority

Marina del Rey