Nuclear power is producing more energy than ever, and whether or not that is a good thing depends on which "green energy" advocate you're asking. Many folks who support solar and wind for security reasons also have a soft spot for nuclear power.

The DOE's Energy Information Administration distributed these data tidbits today:

The U.S. nuclear industry supplied a record 806.5 billion kilowatthours of electricity in 2007. National total nuclear generation was 2.4 percent higher than in 2006, and 2.3 percent higher than in the previous record year, 2004. The total number of operating commercial nuclear reactors in the U.S. increased from 103 to 104 in 2007 with the return to service of the Brown's Ferry 1 reactor, which had been shut down in 1985.

The total number of operating U.S. commercial reactors remains well below the peak level of 112 in 1990. However nuclear power generation in 2007 was 40 percent above the 577 billion kilowatt hours produced in 1990, largely reflecting a major improvement in utilization rates.

Israel and France see nuclear power as greener than coal or natural gas because it is nearly emissions free. Some purportedly greenies are neutral to positive on nuclear power, while many others lump nuclear into the same bin as fossil fuels.

The presidential candidates also have different views on nuclear power, with Hillary Clinton being the most critical of expanding nuclear power.

Until the question of truly securing nuclear fuel and power plants from terrorists and technologies for reducing and neutralizing nuclear waste are improved, I'm against the expansion of existing nuclear power. The dangers today outweigh the benefits.