Buckner: Nuclear reprocessing is best option for environment

There are 72,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel stored at U.S. nuclear power plants, including more than 4,000 tons in South Carolina. And the total is increasing by 2,000 tons annually.

Should we dispose of this used fuel in a deep-geologic repository? Or should we recycle it to produce carbon-free electricity?

With all the clamor over global warming, the case for nuclear recycling has become compelling. With recycling, valuable used fuel is chemically reprocessed into a mixed-oxide fuel that can be used in nuclear plants to generate more electricity. That’s what France, Great Britain and Russia do. And it’s what the United States planned until 1972, when a decision was made that it was uneconomic.

Instead of being reprocessed, used fuel is being stored as waste at nuclear plants, including Catawba, Oconee, Robinson and V.C. Summer in South Carolina.

Nuclear power accounts for 63 percent of the nation’s carbon-free electricity, and without it, it will be impossible to meet the Clean Power Plan mandate of a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions.

Since reprocessing would significantly reduce the amount of waste, it would allow the United States to build just one underground repository rather than multiple repositories. This would help resolve the nuclear-waste problem, while saving taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.

Reprocessing technology has advanced greatly since the mid-1970s. France uses it to produce 80 percent of its electricity and to export power to other European countries. China, Japan and India have announced plans to establish reprocessing facilities. And South Korea and Taiwan are expected to do the same.

These efforts could have a major impact on lessening the danger of global warming.

Before we send used fuel to a waste repository, we should pursue all possible alternatives that reduce greenhouse emissions, while resulting in less waste. Our political leaders should accept that challenge.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Buckner: Nuclear reprocessing is best option for environment."