If nuclear power plants were built to just generate electrical....

[whistle]

...power and say hydrogen for the next generation of automobiles and transportation uses, would all of the nuclear fuel enrichment and breeder reactors be necessary? Or if these types of reactors are an intricate part of nuclear energy, then could these be strictly controlled by say two or three countries which would vow never to make such fuel available for weapons (that might eliminate the U.S. from having any)? Would nuclear power plants cease to be a threat given that extreme safety measures could be focused on these few facilities?

Does that make sense? I have no idea of the answer, just want to throw the idea out for discussion here.

[Kellanved]

1. Well, there is a "peak Uranium" theory.

:D

[whistle]

4. I suppose there would also be a peak geothermal energy also

...but do we roll over and allow human civilization to fall back into a new dark age? Bush's policies will take us there much faster, I believe.

Just as a reference, there are many sources of energy that even my grandkids are researching:

http://www.culverco.com/sseng/more/electricity_gen.html

[MrModerate]

2. Outside of waste disposal, which is more of a political issue . . .

than a technical one, intrinsically safe reactors are possible now.

However, the waste issue appears intractable, and it's unlikely (I'd actually say impossible) to restrict nuclear power to just one or two countries. Not to mention that there's no certainty that any country wouldn't turn to the dark side after you'd sited your reactors there. Just look at the US.

However number two, if we're serious about global warming, we're going to have to find some way to properly handle nuclear energy -- and all its ramifications -- 'cause we can't continue burning the fossil stuff. We're killing the planet.

[hobbit709]

3. All fission reactors

produce weapons-grade material as a byproduct. Breeder reactors just produce a higher percentage. The problem with fission is what to do about the long-term storage of the of the leftovers.