Among their other nonsense, CNN has an annoying feature called the “Ridiculist;” and much as I hate to give them a mention, this certainly belongs at the top of that heap.

Meredith Angwyn’s perennially revisionist website, Yes Vermont Yankee,  is now linking itself to a new venue of nuclear pollyanaism, the doubly oxymoronic Progressives for Nuclear Progress.

The fun begins immediately, as the sole author of the website, Eric Schmitz admits from the outset that a) he is no expert; and that b) the blog’s title is somewhat misleading:

At this point, this website really should be called “A Progressive for Nuclear Progress,” because so far it is just me, Eric Schmitz. I am not a nuclear professional or expert. Rather, I think of myself as something of a “cheerleader” for the advancement and expansion of nuclear energy, hoping to appeal to the American political left and bring more of us on board in support of new and existing nuclear technology.

All going to illustrate how the democratic model of the internet can lend anyone delusions of grandeur.

Mr. Schmitz takes his cue from Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, whose “Breakthrough Institute” embraces not only nuclear energy with open arms, but also shale oil development (aka “fracking”) as the only real answers to the world’s energy problems.  

Thumbing their noses at those who encourage energy conservation, this dynamic duo sees no problem with unlimited growth in consumption.

In fact, they seem to worship at the false idol of eternal boom.  Odd really, for people who operate in a science-based world, that they don’t seem to “get” the simple concept of a finite system.

As David Bergman, the “Eco Optimist” puts it so well:

Shellenberger and other pro-nuclear environmentalists like Stewart Brand are committing the ecological sin of not thinking in systems. They’re looking at the energy issue as if it’s independent from our other environmental and social dilemmas…more consumption and more technology do not automatically lead to improved quality of life. In fact, once basic needs have been fulfilled, the opposite is true.

They take the position that all we have to do is be better stewards of nuclear energy and we can use as much as we like.  Yes; and if wishes were fishes, we’d have lots to fry.

It is the fondest hope of the nuclear industry and its propoents (like Angwyn and Schmitz) that Shellenberger and Nordhaus will blow some sunshine up the skirts of the nuclear marketplace, providing creative cover from the fact that nuclear is finally being unmasked before the public as neither safe, nor clean; and certainly not economic.

Who knew they’d try to wrap themselves in a progressive flag, of all things!

The appearance of Mr Schmitz’ lonely little cheerleader imagining some kind of progressive migration to nuclear is that much more pathetic.  

Suggesting that someone who does not know the meaning of the word “enough” can still be called a “progressive” simply demonstrates how out of touch these people are.