More Power!!!

Good morning! Yesterday, Monday, was an exciting day. We had the opportunity to tour Cooper Nuclear Plant in Brownville, Nebraska. We learned a lot about the facility and how the Nuclear Plant works. Did you know that nuclear power is actually all about steam? The nuclear reaction creates heat, which heats up water in pipes, turning it to steam, it then moves a turbine that is HUGE (we saw the top half of it, and it was at least twenty feet tall). They use the Missouri River to cool the water before moving it back into the reactor to become steam again. We got to see the top of the reactor (which is covered in concrete, so we only saw the concrete) and the pool where spent fuel is held. That's right, pool. The nuclear fuel gets to a point where it is still radioactive, but it is no longer useful in creating power.

After we toured the plant, we had lunch. Over lunch we talked about how safe the plant is, there are lots and lots of safety measures in place so that the public is safe. However, nearly everyone expressed a concern about the environment. True, the nuclear plant produces significantly less greenhouse gases, but it does release a small about of steam that is slightly radioactive. What might happen to the birds or to the ozone layer? Also, as I mentioned before, the water from the Missouri River is used to cool the steam. It is then returned to the river, but at a much warmer temperature than when it was drawn out. What effect might that have on microorganisms in the river? We agreed that, as a short term solution, nuclear power may have the fewest side effects, but, overall, the healthiest choice is a lifestyle change.

After the power plant and lunch, we went to SENDS, a program that works with developmentally challenged adults. It was very neat to see these adults working hard and trying to work with the culture around them.

After that, we toured Auburn Public Works. They have six generators that run on electricity or diesel fuel. This is a station that supplements the "base power," such as that provided by Cooper. They generally only run a few hours and are notified when to run by Nebraska Public Power District.

We had a nice, quiet evening watching movies with the girls and Pr. Catherine's grandson, Davison.