Nuclear waste

Re “A gift for the future,” Opinion, Dec. 24

Charles L. Harper Jr.’s wish to invest more in nuclear power has merit as an alternative energy source, but he downplays several problems that keep nuclear power from being the magic bullet he makes it out to be.

Though the operation of a nuclear power plant does produce very little in the way of carbon emissions, this is counteracted by the carbon released and ecological damage caused by strip mining to gather uranium. Harper also brushes over the very real problem of where to put any nuclear waste created by a major expansion of nuclear power plants in the U.S.

Perhaps decades from now we shall see fusion reactors as a reality, but until then we need a combination of different energy sources, each with their own pros and cons.

John Ota

Culver City