Re “Reprocessing nuclear waste is no quick fix” (Jan. 21): The more basic question regarding the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) is whether it should have been decommissioned and if it should be reopened.
My understanding is that the problem that led to decommissioning was the fatigue failure of some of the water-carrying tubes. This is not a complex engineering problem to fix. The cure requires replacing the faulty tubes with a more rugged version and possibly adding bracing.
My guess is that the decision to decommission was largely driven by the concern over how long it would take the regulatory approval process to certify the proposed design fix.
California needs a lot more “clean” energy and an operating SONGS could restore the 9% of California electricity production that was lost. The current administration would likely fast-track the approval process. It’s probably the least expensive way to move forward. Is this too hard for our leaders in Sacramento to consider?
— Chuck Bohle, San Diego