Three Mile Island - Lessons for America

The great fear of a nuclear castastrophe is the prime lesson learned from the Three Mile Island accident. This fear is real and creates a major risk to our society. Although the probability of a major release of radioactivity occurring at a given plant in a given year is low, the rapidly increasin number of plants around the world increases the probability that such a catastrophe will occur someplace in the next few years. When a major release does occur, people will demand an end to the use of energy from nuclear power. We are at grave risk in not having an alternative, in not providing a choice in time. The alternatives are clearly defined. But we need to see that the resources are made available to develop them.