George Rebane

Hyperion Power Generation, Inc. in New Mexico has developed a small nuclear powerplant that can power 20,000 homes from a unit measuring a couple of meters on a side.  This generator with no moving parts will cost about $25M in place which is about twenty feet underground.  The technology is very mature with no chance of Chernobyl type accidents.

This is called a leapfrog technology since it can immediately start powering small, remote communities worldwide without having to lay in long and expensive power grids and distribution systems.  The whole thing can be delivered on a truck, put in place with normal contractor equipment, and not bothered with again for about ten years or so when it needs to be refueled with non-weapon grade uranium.

The cost of the units will, of course, come down as more companies begin to deliver them.  Today one of these could power all of western Nevada County.  The only thing that will stand in the way is the usual cadre of emotional environmentalists and community activists. They will want to study the impact of each installation into the next century, putting the cost of such clean, safe power out of reach of most US communities that would benefit.

The rest of the world will install these small nuclear units to power homes, manufactories, water purification systems, and sewage treatment plants.  In the meanwhile we will have a chance to attend free anti-nuclear songfests and sit-ins at the fairgrounds.