Iain Murray, over at the Washington Examiner, writes:

Things have not looked so good for nuclear power since the dawn of the Atomic Age. The public is more accepting of the potential role of nuclear power than at any time since the early 1970s. With that in mind, the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, set up by the Administration to review the tricky question of what to do with nuclear waste, needs to take account of the changes in public attitudes to various energy sources over recent years.
We all know what is happening in the Gulf right now. There is a certain amount of public concern — misplaced, in my view — over global warming. There is also a high level of public skepticism over the feasibility of wind and solar power on a grand scale. That means the public is open to learning more about nuclear power. The Commission has the opportunity to get valuable input into its decisions from the public at large. Such public involvement is essential for the Commission’s final report to gain public legitimacy and acceptance.
How should it go about it? One option would be for the Commission, at every stage of its inquiries, to hold Web-based discussion groups, town halls, citizens’ panels, and roundtables, under Article 9 of its charter. These consultations will tell the Commission what is and isn’t feasible in dealing with nuclear waste much more clearly than environmental interests.

The rest here.