This comment won't answer any of your questions, but is vaguely on point as related to "localism."
As a Brit, you may or may not be aware that there was a move afoot for years to force the state of Nevada to accept nuclear waste, which would be buried under a large rock pile called Yucca Mountain. The locals think this is a terrible idea, and since they came out strongly for Obama in the 2008 election, the President has shown his gratitude by eliminating Yucca mountain as a potential repository for everyone else's waste. That gesture is now coming back to bite him as he tries to add nuclear power to the mix of alternative carbon-free energy sources.
I was never a party to any of the negotiations on this matter, but everything I read or heard in the news implied that the decision was being forced on the state--don't recall any mention of compensation. It's always seemed to me that there's a deal which could be struck here. Nevada could be allowed to charge handsomely by the ton for waste storage. Another possibility for compensation would be to allow them to keep the Colorado river water now reserved for California farmers, who use it to irrigate very dry land and produce huge quantities of fruit and vegetables. The water would be very helpful in sustaining Nevada's population growth, which is hitting real limits.
All very well for Nevada, but California's farmers go out of business, and the cost of food goes through the roof. OK. . . .California can build an array of fine, earthquake-proof reactors, and use waste heat to desalinate seawater. And get a break on the disposal of their nuclear waste. (This piece of the fantasy looked a lot better before California became an economic basket case. And it's never been seen by an engineer. . .) Getting all those power & water stations funded would require some serious creativity. Possibly the wealthy Nevadans could build the facilities and lease them back to California. Or something.
I'd really love to be around to hear the negotiations if this notion ever gets any traction.
no subject
As a Brit, you may or may not be aware that there was a move afoot for years to force the state of Nevada to accept nuclear waste, which would be buried under a large rock pile called Yucca Mountain. The locals think this is a terrible idea, and since they came out strongly for Obama in the 2008 election, the President has shown his gratitude by eliminating Yucca mountain as a potential repository for everyone else's waste. That gesture is now coming back to bite him as he tries to add nuclear power to the mix of alternative carbon-free energy sources.
I was never a party to any of the negotiations on this matter, but everything I read or heard in the news implied that the decision was being forced on the state--don't recall any mention of compensation. It's always seemed to me that there's a deal which could be struck here. Nevada could be allowed to charge handsomely by the ton for waste storage. Another possibility for compensation would be to allow them to keep the Colorado river water now reserved for California farmers, who use it to irrigate very dry land and produce huge quantities of fruit and vegetables. The water would be very helpful in sustaining Nevada's population growth, which is hitting real limits.
All very well for Nevada, but California's farmers go out of business, and the cost of food goes through the roof. OK. . . .California can build an array of fine, earthquake-proof reactors, and use waste heat to desalinate seawater. And get a break on the disposal of their nuclear waste. (This piece of the fantasy looked a lot better before California became an economic basket case. And it's never been seen by an engineer. . .) Getting all those power & water stations funded would require some serious creativity. Possibly the wealthy Nevadans could build the facilities and lease them back to California. Or something.
I'd really love to be around to hear the negotiations if this notion ever gets any traction.