[dewey]

> There's more radiation set free by coal power plants than nuclear power plants because they burn that stuff and blow it into the air.

Trying to understand this: "more radiation set free by coal power plants than nuclear power plants"

Is that for the day-to-day operations of a plant? I actually thought nuclear power plants don't emit any radiation in normal operations and only if something bad happens. Or if it's referring to a Fukushima like event how do you compare that? I have a hard time putting these two in relation.

[goatinaboat]

is that for the day-to-day operations of a plant? I actually thought nuclear power plants don't emit any radiation in normal operations

There are naturally occurring particulates of radioactive elements in coal, these are released into the environment in the exhaust. No-one cares about this but they panic over a nuclear power station which actually emits an order of magnitude less radiation.

[dewey]

> but they panic over a nuclear power station

I don't think anyone panics over a nuclear power station that's working. What people are afraid of is a Fukushima / Chernobyl in their backyard and the non-existing long term storage options that are more sophisticated than burying it in the holes.

[pvaldes]

Is the same kind of radiation?