by Rick Maltese

Created on: March 20, 2009   Last Updated: March 23, 2009

Why we need THIS alternative energy source. Nuclear. I dare you to read more. Nuclear but not nuclear. It's more than Nuclear. Kind of like Woody Allen's character Alvy Singer romancing Annie Hall and wanting a better word than "love". "Lerv" was suggested. But seriously, thorium, if you have not heard is the next greatest nuclear fuel. How is it more than nuclear? You will see that it really is in a class of its own.

Thorium works best in a Molten Salt Reactor (MSR). Already this is "nuclear" jargon but MSR's were discontinued back in the 60's even after getting some very impressive results. In fact, outside of the MSR, thorium is pretty useless. So what word could replace "nuclear". Clearly "nuclear" has got some bad press. So what do you do when something you believe can save the planet is shrouded in controversy.

Give it a new name. What happens when that someone is a bright young physics and astronomy major. Well the word becomes four words. Kirk Sorenson came up with "Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor (LFTR)." For three years now a fast growing group of scientists, engineers and enthusiasts who believe they have seen the light, have been active on the EnergyFromThorium.com website discussing various ways to rebuild, redesign and promote the updated, once abandoned proposal. Why it was abandoned is very disturbing and brings to mind the plot for The Terminator where a single event determined the fall of civilization. It was because a Thorium MSR would not produce weapons grade fuel as a by-product so they were considered unworthy. Also the fact that large amounts of money had already been invested in Fast Breeder Reactors.

So the names not sexy. What can it do? The LFTR produces infinitely less by-products than typical modern nuclear plants and is infinitely cleaner since it efficiently uses all of the fuel. This is due to the clever chemical manipulation of the various isotopes and the fact that the high heat makes for a more complete combustion. We get an amazingly small amount of nuclear waste. But what's more amazing is that these reactors can effectively eliminate existing nuclear waste by using it for fuel and burning it efficiently. If that's not enough to convince you LFTR's can also be built smaller and cheaper than coal plants. Obviously if they could help save the planet from the horendous waste so much of the world now creates using coal plants wouldn't they already be in use.

You've heard of politics. The will of the people? Politicians like votes.

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