Zach Van Horn
@nuclearzak.bsky.social
Nuclear Engineer & Educator
Outreach & Communications
Started as a STEM major looking to make a difference in the world and ended up getting radicalized by the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
All views are my own.
Outreach & Communications
Started as a STEM major looking to make a difference in the world and ended up getting radicalized by the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
All views are my own.
June 18, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Storing radioactive waste in the Permian Basin threatens harm to citizens, employees, and poses risk to lands, air, and water...
But storing radioactive waste at long decommissioned reactor sites—or at Yucca—... doesn't?!
But storing radioactive waste at long decommissioned reactor sites—or at Yucca—... doesn't?!
June 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Storing radioactive waste in the Permian Basin threatens harm to citizens, employees, and poses risk to lands, air, and water...
But storing radioactive waste at long decommissioned reactor sites—or at Yucca—... doesn't?!
But storing radioactive waste at long decommissioned reactor sites—or at Yucca—... doesn't?!
"You can have sugar, flour, water, oil, and eggs... but you MAY NOT have a cake."
June 18, 2025 at 8:56 PM
"You can have sugar, flour, water, oil, and eggs... but you MAY NOT have a cake."
"... for providing interim storage of SNF...
BY MAXIMIZING, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICAL
effective use of existing storage facilities at the site..."
Sorry, Neil... that's NOT a limitation. It's no longer practical to hold spent fuel at decommissioned sites
BY MAXIMIZING, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICAL
effective use of existing storage facilities at the site..."
Sorry, Neil... that's NOT a limitation. It's no longer practical to hold spent fuel at decommissioned sites
June 18, 2025 at 8:56 PM
"... for providing interim storage of SNF...
BY MAXIMIZING, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICAL
effective use of existing storage facilities at the site..."
Sorry, Neil... that's NOT a limitation. It's no longer practical to hold spent fuel at decommissioned sites
BY MAXIMIZING, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICAL
effective use of existing storage facilities at the site..."
Sorry, Neil... that's NOT a limitation. It's no longer practical to hold spent fuel at decommissioned sites
Gorsuch's dissent relies heavily on the NWPA and the idea that it's unlawful to store nuclear waste anywhere but the reactor site or a federally owned facility.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT FUCKING SAYS.
42USC§10151: "Persons owning and operating [nuclear reactors] have the primary responsibility...
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT FUCKING SAYS.
42USC§10151: "Persons owning and operating [nuclear reactors] have the primary responsibility...
June 18, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Gorsuch's dissent relies heavily on the NWPA and the idea that it's unlawful to store nuclear waste anywhere but the reactor site or a federally owned facility.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT FUCKING SAYS.
42USC§10151: "Persons owning and operating [nuclear reactors] have the primary responsibility...
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT FUCKING SAYS.
42USC§10151: "Persons owning and operating [nuclear reactors] have the primary responsibility...
But at the same time as this case is being decide, Texas is suing the NRC, AGAIN. This time to deregulate small nuclear reactors for (guess what!), POWERING OIL FIELD OPERATIONS IN THE PERMIAN BASIN.
June 18, 2025 at 8:53 PM
But at the same time as this case is being decide, Texas is suing the NRC, AGAIN. This time to deregulate small nuclear reactors for (guess what!), POWERING OIL FIELD OPERATIONS IN THE PERMIAN BASIN.
"Terrorists are going to target the oil fields."
June 18, 2025 at 8:52 PM
"Terrorists are going to target the oil fields."
Where's the conservative nuclear advocates when a Republican governor spouts the same rad fears that they contribute to environmentalists!?
June 18, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Where's the conservative nuclear advocates when a Republican governor spouts the same rad fears that they contribute to environmentalists!?
June 18, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Radioactive waste poses such a great risk that the Justices believe we should ignore judicial standing in this case and let anybody sue when the NRC decides to issue a RAM license for it.
This thinking blows up litigation when new plants are proposed.
This thinking blows up litigation when new plants are proposed.
June 18, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Radioactive waste poses such a great risk that the Justices believe we should ignore judicial standing in this case and let anybody sue when the NRC decides to issue a RAM license for it.
This thinking blows up litigation when new plants are proposed.
This thinking blows up litigation when new plants are proposed.
Gorsuch makes the same distinction, but is there? These sites have been decommissioned and basically greenfield, except for the mandated storage of spent fuel until the Feds can do something about it.
June 18, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Gorsuch makes the same distinction, but is there? These sites have been decommissioned and basically greenfield, except for the mandated storage of spent fuel until the Feds can do something about it.
More concerning, however is Gorsuch's dissent, joined by Thomas and Alito.
He says that spent fuel cannot legally be stored away from a reactor unless it's in a federally owned facility.
Hello, Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company? Three Justices think you've been breaking the law for decades.
He says that spent fuel cannot legally be stored away from a reactor unless it's in a federally owned facility.
Hello, Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company? Three Justices think you've been breaking the law for decades.
June 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM
More concerning, however is Gorsuch's dissent, joined by Thomas and Alito.
He says that spent fuel cannot legally be stored away from a reactor unless it's in a federally owned facility.
Hello, Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company? Three Justices think you've been breaking the law for decades.
He says that spent fuel cannot legally be stored away from a reactor unless it's in a federally owned facility.
Hello, Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company? Three Justices think you've been breaking the law for decades.
Wonder where Philly is going to get the 1.9GW it's currently using from Susquehanna. 🤔
June 12, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Wonder where Philly is going to get the 1.9GW it's currently using from Susquehanna. 🤔
"To infinity—and beyond!"
May 22, 2025 at 6:27 PM
"To infinity—and beyond!"
Yes! I think I got used to the old search system. Thankfully, it's still there in case some people aren't ready to make the jump.
The new search has the look of being more user friendly. I hope more people get to used it.
The new search has the look of being more user friendly. I hope more people get to used it.
May 1, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Yes! I think I got used to the old search system. Thankfully, it's still there in case some people aren't ready to make the jump.
The new search has the look of being more user friendly. I hope more people get to used it.
The new search has the look of being more user friendly. I hope more people get to used it.