28 Apr 12
Originally posted by Metal BrainI would suspect global warming alarmists would see electric cars powered using nuclear power as a much better low-carbon solution.
Right. Coal is not a clean fuel when burned either and for the people concerned about carbon emissions coal is heavy with carbon and natural gas is light on carbon for a fossil fuel.
Even the global warming alarmists can tout natural gas as a decent alternative fuel if they think global warming is a bigger concern than fracking.
That is, if most global warming alarmists weren't treehuggers.
28 Apr 12
Originally posted by KazetNagorraIn a post Fukushima world that would be a hard sell.
I would suspect global warming alarmists would see electric cars powered using nuclear power as a much better low-carbon solution.
That is, if most global warming alarmists weren't treehuggers.
28 Apr 12
Originally posted by Scheel"Instead we would have a transport system that can tap in to a number of future energy sources, be it wind, solar or fusion that comes out as the ultimate winner."
An important point !
Clearly it is easier to implement emission reducing measures at a (relatively speaking) limited number of coal plants than at every exhaust pipe in the world.
But as long as we rely on fosile carbon hydrates in the form of natural gas, oil etc it's not going to change the overall equation that much (appart from inner city polution, bu ...[text shortened]... r of future energy sources, be it wind, solar or fusion that comes out as the ultimate winner.
So long as the "winner" is decided in a free market manner, I see it as a good thing.
28 Apr 12
Originally posted by KazetNagorraTracking the safety of nuclear reactors, compared to other methods of producing electricity, show that it is the absolute safest. Probably because of the tremendous danger of a single incident, more overall care is taken to avoid that incident.
I guess that depends on who you're selling it to, Finland is building some new reactors as we speak.
28 Apr 12
Originally posted by normbenignLMAO! How many disasters are necessary before the "nuclear power is really safe" shibboleth gets laid to rest? The only reason such plants are economically feasible is because their owners know they'll never be held financially responsible for all the economic damage one catastrophic "incident" would cause.
Tracking the safety of nuclear reactors, compared to other methods of producing electricity, show that it is the absolute safest. Probably because of the tremendous danger of a single incident, more overall care is taken to avoid that incident.
28 Apr 12
Originally posted by KazetNagorraTheir President doesn't seem to be as willing as you to rely on nuclear power:
I guess that depends on who you're selling it to, Finland is building some new reactors as we speak.
Governments should look at nuclear power as an interim energy source only and continue to target renewables after Japan’s crisis revealed the risks associated with atomic fuel, Finnish President Tarja Halonen said.
Finland, which is building the world’s biggest nuclear reactor, will continue with projects that have been approved by the Helsinki-based parliament, Halonen said in a television interview today recorded at Bloomberg’s New York office. Still, the country should wean itself off nuclear power in the long term in its drive to switch to green technology, she said.
“Nuclear power is not a miracle key for the future,” Halonen said.
Finland was the second western nation after the U.K. to start building nuclear power stations following the meltdown at Ukraine’s Chernobyl plant in 1986. The Nordic country is expanding its nuclear power generation to reduce reliance on Russian electricity. Finland, which is building its fifth atomic reactor, has parliamentary approval to construct two more.
Explosions at nuclear plants in Japan, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that hit the country, should spur governments to do more to develop renewable power sources, Halonen said.
“This is one of the reasons why we have to get rid of the so-called conventional forms and start looking forward to the green economy,” Halonen said. “We all must invest much more in renewable energy resources and new forms of energy.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-15/finland-s-halonen-says-japan-crisis-shows-nuclear-power-is-an-interim-fix.html
28 Apr 12
Originally posted by no1marauderWell, that's nice. I'm not sure the current president agrees with the former one, though.
Their President doesn't seem to be as willing as you to rely on nuclear power:
[b]Governments should look at nuclear power as an interim energy source only and continue to target renewables after Japan’s crisis revealed the risks associated with atomic fuel, Finnish President Tarja Halonen said.
Finland, which is building the world’s ...[text shortened]... /news/2011-03-15/finland-s-halonen-says-japan-crisis-shows-nuclear-power-is-an-interim-fix.html[/b]
28 Apr 12
1 edit
Originally posted by KazetNagorraOOOH, your best "gotcha" moment ever!
Well, that's nice. I'm not sure the current president agrees with the former one, though.
Halonen was President until March 1, 2012. Sorry I don't keep up with the minute by minute election results in Finland.
Since we're nitpicking, Finland is only building one nuclear reactor "as we speak" though two more have been approved for future construction.
29 Apr 12
Originally posted by no1marauderOooh, your best "gotcha" moment ever!
OOOH, your best "gotcha" moment ever!
Halonen was President until March 1, 2012. Sorry I don't keep up with the minute by minute election results in Finland.
Since we're nitpicking, Finland is only building one nuclear reactor "as we speak" though two more have been approved for future construction.
29 Apr 12
1 edit
.. back on topic ..
Australia has had LP gas as an alternative fuel for decades. It's very popular among taxi fleets and owners of large cars. Normal unleaded 91 fuel costs $1.50 per litre, gas less than half that. Service stations normally offer standard diesel and LP gas as well as 91 octane and 95 octane unleaded petrol. The gas tank tends to reduce the boot storage capacity somewhat. Our two local car manufacturers offer an LP-only large vehicle and we can also have dual-fuel options, useful in remote areas where LP gas pumps aren't common.
29 Apr 12
Originally posted by no1marauderEverything is an "interim fix".
Their President doesn't seem to be as willing as you to rely on nuclear power:
[b]Governments should look at nuclear power as an interim energy source only and continue to target renewables after Japan’s crisis revealed the risks associated with atomic fuel, Finnish President Tarja Halonen said.
Finland, which is building the world’s ...[text shortened]... /news/2011-03-15/finland-s-halonen-says-japan-crisis-shows-nuclear-power-is-an-interim-fix.html[/b]
29 Apr 12
Originally posted by KewpieClearly the best solutions may be purely local, as what works best where you happen to be. Markets are best at sorting those things out, rather than people who think they know best.
.. back on topic ..
Australia has had LP gas as an alternative fuel for decades. It's very popular among taxi fleets and owners of large cars. Normal unleaded 91 fuel costs $1.50 per litre, gas less than half that. Service stations normally offer standard diesel and LP gas as well as 91 octane and 95 octane unleaded petrol. The gas tank tends to reduce ...[text shortened]... d we can also have dual-fuel options, useful in remote areas where LP gas pumps aren't common.
29 Apr 12
Originally posted by normbenignExcept when there are externalities which markets can't take account of. Which is pretty pervasive in this area.
Clearly the best solutions may be purely local, as what works best where you happen to be. Markets are best at sorting those things out, rather than people who think they know best.
29 Apr 12
Originally posted by no1marauder"Externalities" are what markets deal with better than super smart people who have oversized egos and think they know best for everyone, everywhere.
Except when there are externalities which markets can't take account of. Which is pretty pervasive in this area.