But they haven't changed their CO2eq output by much. I love the other renewables (I see nuclear as much as a renewable as solar), but there's still problems with batteries and storing energy generated. The IPCC recommends nuclear because it's the only current technology we have to tackle this problem. And no pro nuclear person is saying 100% nuclear. We want a well diversified portfolio that doesn't include fossil fuels.
And I want to be clear. Look at the numbers of deaths from the three major accidents. (I'm on my phone so I'll try to remember to edit this to provide sources), but not that many people died or are predicted to die from Chernobyl, Fukushima, or Three Mile Island (which has a count of 0!) There's more people dying in the US every year from just the air pollution caused by coal plants than the total (already dead and predicted early deaths, find the highest number too!) From those accidents.
And I'd rather deal with a Coke can of highly radioactive waste a year than train loads of low radioactive waste a day (coal). In the end we do the same thing with them. Put it in the ground.
Yeah, there should be better options. Fusion is extremely promising. I'd love to see batteries become better and more environmentally friendly to make. But we're not there yet and we don't have time to wait. For these things to be invented. Build nuclear now. When those come to life, build them too. But we can't just keep arguing and do nothing. It is time to worry. It has been time to worry for awhile now.
I'm not sure I understand, or are you misunderstanding me? Germany could have reduced CO2 output if they had kept their nuclear power stations open, instead they've been running to stand still. That was my point.
I agree with you.
And I want to be clear. Look at the numbers of deaths from the three major accidents. (I'm on my phone so I'll try to remember to edit this to provide sources), but not that many people died or are predicted to die from Chernobyl, Fukushima, or Three Mile Island (which has a count of 0!) There's more people dying in the US every year from just the air pollution caused by coal plants than the total (already dead and predicted early deaths, find the highest number too!) From those accidents.
And I'd rather deal with a Coke can of highly radioactive waste a year than train loads of low radioactive waste a day (coal). In the end we do the same thing with them. Put it in the ground.
Yeah, there should be better options. Fusion is extremely promising. I'd love to see batteries become better and more environmentally friendly to make. But we're not there yet and we don't have time to wait. For these things to be invented. Build nuclear now. When those come to life, build them too. But we can't just keep arguing and do nothing. It is time to worry. It has been time to worry for awhile now.