In Virginia's glowing hills

摘要

Thirty years after America's worst atomic accident at the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania, and 330 miles (530km) away in the rural Piedmont region of Virginia, a retired army officer-turned-diplomat wants to kick-start the country's nuclear industry-in his own front yard.rnWalter Coles and his son (also Walter), backed with $25111 from a clutch of unidentified local investors, Canadian energy firms, hedge funds and equity shops, propose to mine the largest untapped lode of uranium in the United States. The problem is a Virginia law, largely the handiwork of environmentalists and some of the Coles' frightened neighbours, which prohibits uranium mining anywhere in the state.rnBands of the radioactive ore stretch north-south along Virginia's rolling hills.