We need to take nuclear safety concerns very seriously, but let's not forget what the baseline for our energy system is.

Refinery explosion

February 7, 2010

Middletown, Connecticut

Six people were killed at an explosion at the Kleen Energy refinery. The explosion eventually led the government to levy $16.6 million in fines because of 225 "willful" violations of safety procedures at the plant. (Seen above.)

Refinery explosion

March 2, 2010

Artesia, New Mexico

Two workers were killed and two others seriously injured in a blast near an asphalt tank at the Navajo Refinery.

Coal mine accident

March 15, 2010

Zhengzhou, China

25 workers died after a fire broke out in the Dongxing Coal Mining Company's main elevator shaft.

Coal mine accident

Quetta, Pakistan

March 20, 2011

45 miners died in a coal mine collapse. Most suffocated from inhaling methane gas. (Seen above. AP/Arshad Butt)

Coal mine accident

Shanxi, China

March 28, 2010

After a flood trapped 153 workers underground in the Wangjialing coal mine, a massive Chinese rescue effort saved most of the workers. 38 still died in the tragedy. (Seen above. Reuters/Donald Chan)

Coal mine accident

Yichuan, China

March 31, 2010

44 workers died in a blast at a small coal mine.

Refinery Explosion

April 2, 2010

Anacortes, Washington

Five fatalities resulted from a blast at the Tesoro refinery in eastern Washington State.

Upper Big Branch Mine Explosion

Raleigh County, West Virginia

April 5, 2010

29 miners were killed at a Massey Energy controlled mine. (A vigil for the miners is seen above. Reuters/John Gress.)

Drilling rig accident

Gulf of Mexico

April 20, 2010

11 workers were killed when an explosion rocked the BP Deepwater Horizon well. Before the environmental catastrophe ended, 200 million gallons of oil had been released into the Gulf of Mexico. (Seen above. Reuters/Ho New.)

Coal mine accident

May 8, 2010

Mezhdurechensk, Russia

91 people were killed in an explosion at the Raspadskaya in Siberia. 129 people were also injured in both the initial blast and the subsequent rescue effort, which was hampered by a second explosion. (Seen above. Reuters.)

Gas explosion

Anshun City, Guizhou, China

May 14, 2010

21 people were killed by a gas explosion.

Coal mine accident

Zonguldak, Turkey

May 18, 2010

28 coal miners were killed after an underground explosion collapsed the mine. (Seen above. Reuters/Umit Bektas)

Coal mine accident

Shanxi Province, China

May 19, 2010

10 workers were killed in yet another Chinese coal mine blast.

Coal mine accident

Chenzhou City, China

May 30, 2010

17 people were killed in a coal mine after dynamite stored at the site exploded.

Coal mine accident

Amaga, Colombia

June 17, 2010

73 workers were killed in a gas explosion that struck in the middle of the night. (Seen above. Reuters/Fredy Amariles)

Coal mine accident

Pingdingshan City, China

June 21, 2010

46 people were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning after a explosion in a mine.