To the Editor:
Nuclear power was being touted as a solution at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Paris. However, examine the facts and you will see that nuclear power is anything but "green."
Remember Three Mile Island, Chernobyl (the 30-year anniversary is in 2016) and Fukushima. The out-of-control environmental disaster with no solution continues to deteriorate global ocean environmental status almost five years later.
Nuclear waste is toxic for humans for hundreds of thousands of years, with no way to store it safely indefinitely. There are growing concerns about increased cancer rates near nuclear plants. Every nuclear weapons proliferation issue is connected to a nuclear reactor program (think Iran, North Korea). Nuclear reactors are attractive terrorism targets. Construction/operation costs are incredibly high compared to other energy sources.
The nuclear energy cycle starts with uranium mining. Rapid City Journal reporter Seth Tupper's five-part series on historical uranium mining in the Black Hills reveals why nuclear power is not "green" - look at the mess left behind for taxpayers to pay for. Say no to uranium mining in South Dakota.
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Gena Parkhurst
Rapid City
