The End Of The Nuclear Era

Solitaire · 21st November 2003, 01:48 PM

Quote:

The Stade power plant closes Friday, the first step in a
two-decade program to wean Germany from nuclear power.

Here's the source of the problem.

Quote:

Nuclear reactors, which are heavily subsidized by the government,
still provide the more stable source of energy, the critics say.

I've always wondered how a handfull of environmentalists could stop
nuclear power. The debates about safty do not really matter. If one can
produce energy for less cost than coal, then seek out sources of private
funding, build the plant, and make a really nice profit off the diferential.
Any old perpetual motion machine crank can rake in millions from private
investors, yet the industry looks for public funding. Why?

Luke T. · 21st November 2003, 02:31 PM

Is nuclear power the only source of power which receives public funding?

geni · 21st November 2003, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Luke T.
Is nuclear power the only source of power which receives public funding?

In the UK wind, tide, wave and solar all recive public funding.
If there are any nuclear power companies left by then I will be buying shares in them in about 15 years time. while fosil fuels remain so cheap nuclear is not going to be able to compete.

Luke T. · 21st November 2003, 02:48 PM

Are any sources of power owned by the government? (Germany, UK, anywhere else)

geni · 21st November 2003, 02:54 PM

In the UK no sources of power are owned by the government (we execept a few small scale genorators). Nuclear was sold off about a year after the rest.

Jon_in_london · 21st November 2003, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by geni
In the UK no sources of power are owned by the government (we execept a few small scale genorators). Nuclear was sold off about a year after the rest.

Well, the privatization of the power generating industry started a price war that has driven the nuclear company to the verge of bankruptcy. Goverment-bail-outcy ensued.

However, the price war drove the prices unsustainably low and they are now on the rise.

I dont think Im entirely happy with nuclear power plants in the hands of private companies, specially if you judge them by the standards of our privatised railways.

Least of my worries anyway. Halliburton now basically controlls our SSBN fleet.

Chaos · 22nd November 2003, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Synchronicity
Germany Grows Greener

Here's the source of the problem.

I've always wondered how a handfull of environmentalists could stop
nuclear power. The debates about safty do not really matter. If one can
produce energy for less cost than coal, then seek out sources of private
funding, build the plant, and make a really nice profit off the diferential.
Any old perpetual motion machine crank can rake in millions from private
investors, yet the industry looks for public funding. Why?

Your quote says it: "Nuclear reactors, which are heavily subsidized by the government"
Nuclear energy does not cost less than coal; it is more competitive because it gets massive subsidies. Coal is also massively subsidized
Regenerative energies would look very good in comparison if either the subsidies were scrapped, or regenerative energies were equally subsidized.

Martin · 22nd November 2003, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chaos
Regenerative energies would look very good in comparison if either the subsidies were scrapped, or regenerative energies were equally subsidized

On the other hand, if regenerative energies were saddled with silly regulations born of political pandering to insane paranoia, they'd probably be somewhat more expensive.

21st November 2003, 01:48 PM	#1
Solitaire Neoclinus blanchardi Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Johnson City, Tennessee Posts: 1,735	The End Of The Nuclear Era Germany Grows Greener Quote: The Stade power plant closes Friday, the first step in a two-decade program to wean Germany from nuclear power. Here's the source of the problem. Quote: Nuclear reactors, which are heavily subsidized by the government, still provide the more stable source of energy, the critics say. I've always wondered how a handfull of environmentalists could stop nuclear power. The debates about safty do not really matter. If one can produce energy for less cost than coal, then seek out sources of private funding, build the plant, and make a really nice profit off the diferential. Any old perpetual motion machine crank can rake in millions from private investors, yet the industry looks for public funding. Why?
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21st November 2003, 02:31 PM	#2
Luke T. Guest Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 14,759	Is nuclear power the only source of power which receives public funding?
Luke T. Guest Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 14,759

21st November 2003, 02:48 PM	#4
Luke T. Guest Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 14,759	Are any sources of power owned by the government? (Germany, UK, anywhere else)
Luke T. Guest Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 14,759

21st November 2003, 10:19 PM	#6
Jon_in_london Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 4,994	Quote: Originally posted by geni In the UK no sources of power are owned by the government (we execept a few small scale genorators). Nuclear was sold off about a year after the rest. Well, the privatization of the power generating industry started a price war that has driven the nuclear company to the verge of bankruptcy. Goverment-bail-outcy ensued. However, the price war drove the prices unsustainably low and they are now on the rise. I dont think Im entirely happy with nuclear power plants in the hands of private companies, specially if you judge them by the standards of our privatised railways. Least of my worries anyway. Halliburton now basically controlls our SSBN fleet.
	__________________ Radicals and Racists Don't point your finger at me I'm a small town white boy Just tryin' to make ends meet Don't need your religion Don't watch that much T.V. Just makin' my livin', baby Well that's enough for me

22nd November 2003, 04:34 AM	#7
Chaos TAM Chocolate Dispenser Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Heart of Old Europe Posts: 9,782	Re: The End Of The Nuclear Era Quote: Originally posted by Synchronicity Germany Grows Greener Here's the source of the problem. I've always wondered how a handfull of environmentalists could stop nuclear power. The debates about safty do not really matter. If one can produce energy for less cost than coal, then seek out sources of private funding, build the plant, and make a really nice profit off the diferential. Any old perpetual motion machine crank can rake in millions from private investors, yet the industry looks for public funding. Why? Your quote says it: "Nuclear reactors, which are heavily subsidized by the government" Nuclear energy does not cost less than coal; it is more competitive because it gets massive subsidies. Coal is also massively subsidized Regenerative energies would look very good in comparison if either the subsidies were scrapped, or regenerative energies were equally subsidized.
	__________________ Grand Master, Knights of the Question Mark Illusion: too good to be true - Reality: too true to be good Authors build castles in the sky, readers live in them and publishers collect the rent. - Maxim Gorki Folks enjoy a witch-hunt as long as they are on the blunt end of the pitchfork. - Suezoled You can't use logic to talk a man out of a position that he didn't use logic to get himself into - passed down by Nyarlathotep Kids these days are better than their parents since they constitute the newest edition, the beta version of our societies - Cleopatra YouÂ´ll have to accept the fact that some people are just plain nuts. - Paul C. Anagnostopolous

21st November 2003, 02:35 PM	#3
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 26,583	Quote: Originally posted by Luke T. Is nuclear power the only source of power which receives public funding? In the UK wind, tide, wave and solar all recive public funding. If there are any nuclear power companies left by then I will be buying shares in them in about 15 years time. while fosil fuels remain so cheap nuclear is not going to be able to compete.

21st November 2003, 02:54 PM	#5
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 26,583	In the UK no sources of power are owned by the government (we execept a few small scale genorators). Nuclear was sold off about a year after the rest.

22nd November 2003, 04:58 AM	#8
Martin Sceptic Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 898	Quote: Originally posted by Chaos Regenerative energies would look very good in comparison if either the subsidies were scrapped, or regenerative energies were equally subsidized On the other hand, if regenerative energies were saddled with silly regulations born of political pandering to insane paranoia, they'd probably be somewhat more expensive.
Martin Sceptic Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 898	__________________ So the Universe is not quite as you thought it was. You had better rearrange your beliefs, then. Because you certainly can't rearrange the Universe. Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg, Nightfall