| Topic: | Re:DoW: Should we go nuclear? | |
| Posted by: | Jonathan Bingham | |
| Date/Time: | 10/01/05 18:14:00 |
| I didn't see the programme but I am opposed to nuclear fission power due to our continued inability to properly dispose of the waste material. After years of havering the US appear to have decided to stick the stuff in a mountain in Nevada, I guess the French put it under the Alps somewhere. In both cases someone else, one day, will have to pick up the tab for sorting it out - and until then we will all have to pay to keep an eye on an ever increasing mound of useless waste - maybe forever - really forever. How wonderful of us. Noting that the UK is lacking in mountains, or even anywhere reasonably isolated, what is this guy's plan for waste disposal?. Where will these nuclear stations be? - The idea that people don't want windmills in the neighbourhood but will be happy to have a nuclear station instead is surely mistaken. Alternatives, well I think we have barely scratched the surface of renewables. You can now heat your home with carbon neutral biofuels without creating harmful smoke. Windpower and hydro are getting established (electricity for our home is all from renewable resources), even solar powar is commercially viable for some applications. As for conservation: 20% of car journeys are easily avoidable (this remark is not directed at those whose car journeys are UNavoidable by the way). Much of our housing stock is poorly insulated and overheated &c &c. Perhaps legislation is required here - the idea that we will be using nuclear power instead of gas because the gas has been used by people to keep their patios warm is patently crazy. And in the future fusion power still beckons - twenty, thirty years away? - Is that too long to wait?. These alternatives will cost money - well so will nuclear power - but they don't have the long term neverending cost of waste storage. |