Comments on: The Nuclear Economy

By: Ian C UK

Ian C UK — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:04:33 +0000

I’ve been fascinated by the energy debate since 2000. I came into it via the Peak oil route rather than Global warming but even so realised about 4 years ago renewables were unlikely to cut it. I also discovered the LFTR about 3 years ago, IFR and Polywell 2 years ago. What I don’t get is, why is progress so slow? Even this site plenty of talk but I’m kinda done on talk now. This situation and answers are glaringly obvious. I want to see some good news now and plenty of progress. I can’t say I expect Copenhagen to change much, I hope im wrong.

I think we all thought that Obama was going to bring forth an era of rational progress but im kinda feeling dissapointed by that too.

So where is the Nuclear Economy?

By: Finntotal

Finntotal — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:15:26 +0000

Are Russian and China going together win the energy game and leaving the ancient US of America a collapsing civilization?

I have thought this issue thoroughly and come to the conclusion that the US is lost, and because of IFR.

By: Lawrence

Lawrence — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:39:27 +0000

Leanan’s been posting nuclear news items on TOD.
TOD seems divided – pro-nukes, as seen not happy with Dittmar’s posts, and doomers, planning solar thermal stirling engines made from old Model-T Ford parts.
TOD may already be doing the job of accommodating nuke news as well as anyone.
It was pointed out to me that this is a climate blog not a nuke blog.
Hard core pro nukers already visit talk-polywell, thoriumenergy, nucleargreen, etc.
Having said all that, this could be the downunder place. I certainly think that in the end we’re going to have to go nuclear, even in anti-nuke NZ. The more talk about it the better.
Speaking of news, did anyone see this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/27/nuclear-power-reactor-design
I don’t understand how the Westinghouse AP-1000 could have problems, I thought this was an approved design.

By: John Newlands

John Newlands — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:19:18 +0000

I agree that it would be good to have a forum that goes a bit wider than the biophysical world view of BNC. A lot of us have done Econ 101 and see the virtues in market based approaches, as in incentives to make it work. I like BNC because it is a nuclear ‘speak easy’. I mentioned nuclear in a comment on another website (no name but it was about peak energy) and I got a sharp rebuke from the owner.

Also random developments occur that relate to general lines of argument . I put the link to the pro-nuclear comments by the BHP chairman in yesterday’s article since there seemed nowhere else to put it.

By: John D Morgan

John D Morgan — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:25:35 +0000

I second Robert’s suggestion – it would be great if there were some general discussion area aside from the article comments, not necessarily in the form he suggests. It would save eg. threadjacking discussion of Zachary’s welcome contribution.

By: Robert Smart

Robert Smart — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:21:40 +0000

On Matt’s off-topic comment: BraveNewClimate could be a great forum if it posted an open thread with perhaps a few news links every day. Like Leanan’s Drumbeat at theoildrum.com, but not as big. Not that I’m keen to volunteer…

Anyway, if I might be off-comment. I can’t believe the Libs have blown themselves up like this. If the ETS was adopted then its a brick wall and then it is Labor and the Greens who are in trouble because they have no plan that will work to get over it. Plan A is wind+solar+CCS+etc, and a good Senate enquiry will demolish these (as the book described apparently does). Plan B is to keep burning coal and buy carbon credits from 3rd world countries. Plan B will be massacred at the polls. It will be portrayed as sending money overseas for nothing. And it won’t solve the voters concern that they don’t want Australia to be the world’s worst per-capita polluters. That will leave nuclear power, which has been a dream of Lib leaders from Menzies to Howard. And Nuclear Power will tear Labor and the Greens to shreds. Can’t the Libs see more than one move ahead in the game of politics?

By: DV82XL

DV82XL — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:38:02 +0000

What a refreshing change! Ten years ago, even five, a book with that title would have been a dire warning about the nefarious plans of shadowy figures to impose this dangerous regime on an unsuspecting population.

We have come a long way.

By: Matt Buckels

Matt Buckels — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:02:41 +0000

Sorry for being a tad off topic, but next Thursday 3rd Dec WA Greens Senator Scott Ludlam and Dr Irene Kirczenow will debate Liberal Senator Matthias Cormann and Prof Manfred Lenzen on nuclear power at the Perth Town Hall from 6pm. Of interest to West Australian readers.

Quote Senator Ludlam “We’ve had the debate over and over again and the ‘no’ case has strengthened over time.” hmm