How would Diablo Canyon fare in a Quake/Tsunami? (Los Angeles: how much, construction)

[zenfull]

Is that facility built to withstand something as devastating as Japan's failing nuclear plants?

[18Montclair]

That's an excellent question. I was just thinking the same thing.

I usually support the full use of nuclear power, but after this incident of Japan, Im not so sure anymore considering we are also prone to major earthquakes and now we know, tsunamis too.

[18Montclair]

And it looks like the Tsunami might not be the only problem we have to deal with respect to the recent natural events in Japan.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVGpQRqsyo...Fukushima4.JPG

[18Montclair]

Just some more info on California's 2 nuclear power plants:

Operating nuclear power plants in California are Diablo Canyon, near San Luis Obispo, [pictured in a PG&E photo to the right] and San Onofre, about midway between Los Angeles and San Diego. Nuclear units at both plants use ocean water for cooling.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) owns the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, which consists of two units. Unit 1 is a 1,073 megawatt (MW) PWR which began commercial operation in May 1985, while Unit 2 is a 1,087 MW PWR which began commercial operation in March 1986.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/8/110...109602f2_z.jpg

Southern California Edison Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric own the two operating units at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Unit 2 is a 1,070 MW PWR that began commercial operation in August 1983, while Unit 3 is a 1,080 MW PWR that began commercial operation in April 1984.

http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/fil...onofre-air.jpg

http://www.energy.ca.gov/nuclear/california.html

So PG&E owns Diablo Canyon, and we already know they can't be trusted to maintain anything.

Edison and SDG&E own San Onofre.

I wonder how much oversight there is?

So

[Fiddlehead]

A very good question!!!!

From what I saw in the Japanese videos, they should be shut down NOW. That tsunami crushed and carried way buildings like they were made of toilet paper. The power of such a mass of water just blew my mind. Both these reactors would be toast in such an event, and due to the prevailing winds fallout would be carried over millions of people across the whole US. It is amazing to see how exposed we can be to risk.

I don't blame anyone, because this was probably not obvious until we saw the true power of those waves. As opposed to New Orleans, which was patently obvious for decades.

Let's get smarter about these things.

[Snort]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

And it looks like the Tsunami might not be the only problem we have to deal with respect to the recent natural events in Japan.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVGpQRqsyo...Fukushima4.JPG

Makes one want to say: "fuku shima".

How many rads are safe? How rad are rads?

Eat lots of apples. Apples are good for ya!

[zugor]

For what it's worth - my brother had a very good friend who worked on the construction of the plant and he was a fanatic that things be done with as much precision as humanly possible - he didn't want his family living with a poorly built plant nearby. He was not the guy in charge of the whole thing but what he did have control over was done right. Is it well enough engineered? Who knows.

[BodegaHead]

It would be nice to see tidal hydroelectric power used in those areas instead. Not sure if that would generate enough juice though?
I feel that nuclear is always kind of a potential disaster waiting to happen,especially right on or near active and powerful faults lines. I am not an engineer by any means, but think that building a nuclear power plant A: right on the ocean and B: right on or near a fault line or C: both, is really stupid . But nuclear is generally safe,with no incidence and provides a lot of energy. I think we could do better and do more with solar & hydro power,but hey,what do I know

[DCforever]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

And it looks like the Tsunami might not be the only problem we have to deal with respect to the recent natural events in Japan.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVGpQRqsyo...Fukushima4.JPG

This is nonsense. There isn't going to be a major radioactive release like this.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by DCforever

This is nonsense. There isn't going to be a major radioactive release like this.

Your probably right. I just found this scary graphic and decided to post it. LOL