17. Not The Future: Problems with Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMR’s)

Don Shafer is with the Tennessee Environmental Council and resident SMR expert. SMR or SMNR stand for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors,they are nuclear fission reactors that are slated to be built at a smaller size but in larger numbers than most of the world’s current nuclear fleet. “small” because they generate a maximum of about 30 percent as much power as typical current reactors, and “modular” because they can be assembled in factories and shipped to power plant sites. These are only proposed reactors right now and the nuclear industry ‘claims’ that they are the way of the future. With Don, we discuss the problems and argue the claims of SMR’s including the economical implications, environmental and public health impacts, and where they are a potential threat. We also talk about how nuclear energy should not be classified as ‘clean’ energy and ultimately that SMR’s and nuclear gets in the way of funding and progressing renewable energy. Contact and connect with Don: https://www.tectn.org/ or http://www.bredl.org/ Learn more about the nuclear industry: http://www.bredl.org/nuclear/index.htm, https://www.nirs.org/, http://www.beyondnuclear.org/,https://www.fairewinds.org/ SMR resources: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/small-modular-reactors http://www.beyondnuclear.org/the-nuclear-retreat/2015/1/20/small-modular-reactors-may-never-be-viable.html Idaho and UAMPS: https://www.powermag.com/the-quest-for-next-generation-nuclear-fuels/ TVA and SMR news: https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/story/2020/apr/07/tva-work-university-tennessee-small-nuclear-units-oak-ridge/520087/ Background Music Credits: https://www.youtube.com/c/mbbmusic https://soundcloud.com/mbbofficial https://www.instagram.com/mbb_music