Reply #2: Actually, the use of a nuclear reactor to assist in mining

[amandabeech]

the tar sand has been discussed previously, and apparently rejected. The last I heard of it was about a year ago.

The Canadians were considering building a standard "Candu" nuclear power plant that would provide the steam needed to get the heavy tar-like bitumen to drip into spots where it could then be recovered. The electricity could be used in standard of electrolysis of water to provide hydrogen, or could be sent south to the U.S. grid.

Currently, natural gas is used both to make steam and as a source of hydrogen by the steam reforming process. Burning it, of course, results in some GHG emissions, and decreases the among of natural gas available for such uses as space heating, for which natural gas is particularly well-suited. For that use, it is extremely efficient and emits fewer greenhouse gases and other pollutants than heating oil and electrical resistance heating.

I am not a great fan of nukes, but I am not totally opposed to them either considering the draw-backs of burning fossil fuels. I much prefer renewables, but I have very serious doubts as to whether renewables alone can provide sufficient uninterrupted electricity for an adequate, although much more modest, standard of living.