University of Texas Electric Power Generation Discussion

We opened this module with a comparison of electric power generation in the UK and France.We pointed out that in the UK, and in the US, after the US Three Mile Island nuclear incident, there was far slower growth of commercial nuclear power than that seen in France, which moved ahead. Further, we have now noted there is “outrage” both for energy technologies that continue to produce greenhouse gases… and for nuclear power, though nuclear has been shown to have the lowest carbon footprint of all options. Also, we note that Japan’s Fukushima incident has fostered moral outrage in Japan that did not appear after Three Mile Island.

So in this module 19 discussion forum, using the new information, particularly on nuclear power that was presented, please do the following:

1) Review your prior module 15 forum discussion contribution(s) (week of Oct 17th) and decide whether your view of the best energy option (or combination of options) has shifted or not; then…

2) Using your new appreciation of risk communication, decide where your current position (revised or not) is located on Sandman’s grid (hazard vs. outrage) and then discuss you current thoughts in the Module 19 forum. Summarize your current position using your new awareness of risk communication principles.