Isn’t the main beneficiary of centralized power generation industry and not the average citizen?

Cool.

I hear and understand this perspective. For me, the overwhelming focus on carbon emissions misses the point that the planet and our relationship to it is sick. We have to consider the overall health of the planet and future generations when we make our decisions.

I’m by no means advocating for increasing the utilization of coal, oil, and gas, but just wanting to challenge my own feelings around nuclear energy.

Some how I feel like the fact that nuclear is also reliant on extraction gets lost in the focus on decarbonization.

My objectionsn to nuclear are also similarly moral. I just have such a huge issue with an energy source that creates a waste that will be around for generations.

Uranium mining has also created so many environmental disasters and is a risk to human health on that end.

That being said, I also understand that batteries and solar require rare earth minerals which causes more mining and human rights violations.

If fusion were ever to be feasible, would it also need to used mined uranium, or are there other fuel sources?

I also have such an issue with just looking at carbon footprinting.

I appreciate the comment on what waste we’re willing to deal with. It’s also important to look at the embedded energy of the process, the energy return on investment, and the overall ecological footprint.

Why is there a ban on recycling if that much is reusable? I thought it was an issue with reactor design?

Has anywhere actually solved the issue of waste handling?

I think nuclear also benefits a centralized grid structure more than community-based energy production and use.

It’s interesting to me that the conversation has shifted so far from ecological footprinting to carbon footprinting. I don’t think the Navajo Nation would agree that nuclear energy creates less emissions that coal. The mining and end life of nuclear energy is just too toxic for me to ever consider it clean or green.

Of course, I also have an issue with hydropower, so 🤷🏻

I like this take. Isn’t solar punk itself a “counter-take” to the overwhelming distopian future visions? I’ve always said, we need to clearly describe the future we hope for so people know what we are working towards.