• @roastpotatothief
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    52 years ago

    I think the biggest problem is all the concrete that goes into building them.

    Then there’s the concrete needed for nuclear waste dumps. You have to consider the whole life-cycle of the plant before comparing.

    • @DPUGT2
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      32 years ago

      Exactly. The concrete for just one nuclear reactor could build apartment buildings for 192 quadrillion humans (not that there are so many). We’re talking teratons of carbon dioxide, per plant. It’s just too much. I mean, I don’t like the coal plants that we’re using during the transition to true renewable energy, but that’s only the tiniest fraction of carbon dioxide that is produced during the construction of a single nuclear plant.

      Thankfully, solar and wind don’t use concrete at all. Those installations are anchored into the ground with unicorn farts and pixie dust, making them environmentally friendly and safe for humanity. Say no to big concrete.

      • @roastpotatothief
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        2 years ago

        Following the discussion in the other comments, I did some research.

        People usually cite this, which cites this which cites this, which cites this.

        You can see there that plant construction and decommissioning are both counted, and that the comparison for nuclear versus renewables is very good.

        • @DPUGT2
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          -12 years ago

          Nuclear is dangerous. There is no getting around this. It’s dangerous in many more ways than coal or oil, it’s more dangerous than anything. It is a constant, ongoing natural disaster. No one who calls themselves an environmentalist could possibly downplay the catastrophe that is nuclear.

          • @roastpotatothief
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            32 years ago

            In what sense is it more dangerous than coal, if not in terms of human or animal deaths, or environmental damage? It’s more dangerous by what measure?

    • @pingveno
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      32 years ago

      Of course, no energy source is going to be without its issues and impacts. Wind and solar are intermittent. Battery technology just isn’t there yet for a whole-grid battery, and the amount of resources involved in creating those batteries with current technology would be its own environmental impact. You need a baseline power source, and nuclear fills that niche well.

      • @roastpotatothief
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        2 years ago

        For me, it’s not a choice, you need all of them. None of these technologies can alone feed the huge energy appetites of data-centres.

        Tidal power is under-exploited today and has huge potential. Nuclear and bio-diesel could have complementary huge roles. Wind-power is 100x less efficient than tidal, but it can be used inland.

        I just want people to do their sums. Politicians are today planning nuclear plants, but forgetting about the huge fallout from decommissioning and toxic waste.

        • @pingveno
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          22 years ago

          Yeah, it’s gotta be all of the above. We don’t have time to eliminate viable options just because they have some downsides.