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The whole nuclear power situation is a total clownshow. Here in California we've regulated nuclear out of existence and we're replacing it with natural gas in a

The whole nuclear power situation is a total clownshow. Here in California we've regulated nuclear out of existence and we're replacing it with natural gas in an effort to save the environment/children. Truly as fucking stupid as it sounds.

sm0ss117 5y ago
Look, in order to prevent scary radiation from entering the environment through nuclear we have to use clean and even more radioactive natural gas.
- Siecje 5y ago
  Can you explain how natural gas is radioactive?
  - ben_w 5y ago
    Wikipedia says radon gets into it: """Radon is found in some petroleum. Because radon has a similar pressure and temperature curve to propane, and oil refineries separate petrochemicals based on their boiling points, the piping carrying freshly separated propane in oil refineries can become radioactive because of decaying radon and its products.[84] Residues from the petroleum and natural gas industry often contain radium and its daughters. The sulfate scale from an oil well can be radium rich, while the water, oil, and gas from a well often contains radon. Radon decays to form solid radioisotopes that form coatings on the inside of pipework.[84]""" - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radon https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radon Unfortunately citation 84 is a dead link: "Potential for Elevated Radiation Levels In Propane" (PDF). National Energy Board. April 1994. Retrieved 2009-07-07" - http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rsftyndthnvrnmnt/sfty/sftydvsr/1994/nbs199401-eng.pdf http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rsftyndthnvrnmnt/sfty/sftyd...
    - jhgb 5y ago
      Except natural gas does not get distilled propane added into it (or at least I'm not aware of anyone doing that; the varying composition of natural gas is due to its varying geological origins).
  - sm0ss117 5y ago
    https://www.epa.gov/radiation/tenorm-oil-and-gas-production-wastes https://www.epa.gov/radiation/tenorm-oil-and-gas-production-... Basically there are radioactive rocks in the deposits that natural gas is stored in. Additionally there is some radioactive gas in the Gas deposits as a result of radioactive decay.
jhgb 5y ago
> Here in California we've regulated nuclear out of existence That sounds weird to me in light of the regulatory capture of US nuclear industry. I remember the incident with the thinning piping being "fixed" by adjusting (downwards) the thickness required by the regulations, until the pipe burst. If anything the regulators seem to be bending over backwards for the utility operators.
option 5y ago
that is wrong. We are replacing it with coal in Utah. LA county buys up to 20% of its electricity from Utah, triggering a coal and gas expansion there.

sm0ss117 5y ago

Look, in order to prevent scary radiation from entering the environment through nuclear we have to use clean and even more radioactive natural gas.

Siecje 5y ago
Can you explain how natural gas is radioactive?
- ben_w 5y ago
  Wikipedia says radon gets into it: """Radon is found in some petroleum. Because radon has a similar pressure and temperature curve to propane, and oil refineries separate petrochemicals based on their boiling points, the piping carrying freshly separated propane in oil refineries can become radioactive because of decaying radon and its products.[84] Residues from the petroleum and natural gas industry often contain radium and its daughters. The sulfate scale from an oil well can be radium rich, while the water, oil, and gas from a well often contains radon. Radon decays to form solid radioisotopes that form coatings on the inside of pipework.[84]""" - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radon https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radon Unfortunately citation 84 is a dead link: "Potential for Elevated Radiation Levels In Propane" (PDF). National Energy Board. April 1994. Retrieved 2009-07-07" - http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rsftyndthnvrnmnt/sfty/sftydvsr/1994/nbs199401-eng.pdf http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rsftyndthnvrnmnt/sfty/sftyd...
  - jhgb 5y ago
    Except natural gas does not get distilled propane added into it (or at least I'm not aware of anyone doing that; the varying composition of natural gas is due to its varying geological origins).
- sm0ss117 5y ago
  https://www.epa.gov/radiation/tenorm-oil-and-gas-production-wastes https://www.epa.gov/radiation/tenorm-oil-and-gas-production-... Basically there are radioactive rocks in the deposits that natural gas is stored in. Additionally there is some radioactive gas in the Gas deposits as a result of radioactive decay.

jhgb 5y ago

> Here in California we've regulated nuclear out of existence That sounds weird to me in light of the regulatory capture of US nuclear industry. I remember the incident with the thinning piping being "fixed" by adjusting (downwards) the thickness required by the regulations, until the pipe burst. If anything the regulators seem to be bending over backwards for the utility operators.

option 5y ago

that is wrong. We are replacing it with coal in Utah. LA county buys up to 20% of its electricity from Utah, triggering a coal and gas expansion there.