Nuclear
waste management has loomed over energy policy debates for decades. The
federal government has designated Yucca Mountain as the sole site to be
considered for permanent disposal, and unsuccessfully attempted to
railroad the construction of a repository there. But in all that time, a
decentralized and informal system for managing nuclear spent fuel has
emerged. What’s needed now is to abandon the failed, top-down nuclear
waste framework in favor of a new policy agenda built on
decentralization, consent, and innovation.
In a new Breakthrough report, we propose a set of pragmatic policy
measures to ensure a sustainable future for nuclear in the United
States. We draw on historical American experience, international
comparisons, and emerging technological innovations to create a set of
options for nuclear waste policy that aligns the interests of
communities, governments, industry, and environmental advocates. Our
proposed solutions include:
- Consent-based decentralized waste storage and disposal,
- reprocessing waste into fuel, reforming the international regime for waste, and
- pursuing innovative technological options for waste management.
The future of nuclear power in the United States depends on the future of nuclear waste management. Here's our take on better waste management.
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