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This sounds great as long as they’re going to build more than, like, four reactors for $80 billion.
by nocoiner 11mo ago
This sounds great as long as they’re going to build more than, like, four reactors for $80 billion.
- citizenpaul 11mo agoThey won't build any. It will have the same outcome as the last one where they were supposed to build 2 reactors and basically filled some holes in the ground with concrete to the tune of $25+ Billion dollars. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nukegate_scandal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nukegate_scandal Coincidentally I was listening to a podcast today discussing nuclear power and their opinions were that there will never be a big reactor built in the US again. There might be these new style micro reactors though.
- phendrenad2 11mo agoWell, we need to solve that problem. Because nuclear power is a watermark for how well a civilization can handle complexity. It's good practice for the next pandemic, or solar flare, or civil unrest. If we can't handle nuclear, we should just throw in the towel and go back to warring tribes.
- ViewTrick1002 11mo agoOr just build renewables and storage.
- phendrenad2 11mo agoAnd once the world is covered in non-operational solar panels and wind turbines, you think we'll be able to fix it? You think a massive worldwide recycling campaign is going to be easier than nuclear?
- ViewTrick1002 11mo agoWhy would they be less operational than any other asset we use in our grids which we continuously repair, replace and upgrade?
- phendrenad2 11mo agoIt's all about watts per pound of stuff that will need replaced
- adrianN 11mo agoWe’re pretty good at making lots of simple stuff like solar panels. We’re less good at building small numbers of complex things like reactors.
- phendrenad2 11mo agoI agree, but my point was this aversion to complexity is our version of the fermi paradox. We're accumulating scars from our addiction to fossil fuels, and beyond that solar, and it's a matter of time before we go extinct as a result.
- ViewTrick1002 11mo agoIn what way does solar leave scars?
- BobaFloutist 11mo ago> we need to solve that problem. Because nuclear power is a watermark for how well a civilization can handle complexity. We have got to make that measure a target?
- mpweiher 11mo ago10. "Westinghouse announced in July it plans to open 10 new plants in the U.S., with construction starting in 2030." -- https://www.ans.org/news/article-7499/westinghouse-signs-80b-contract-to-meet-ai-demand/ https://www.ans.org/news/article-7499/westinghouse-signs-80b...
- nocoiner 11mo agoThat actually sounds pretty reasonable to me. I’d love to see the cost curve come down some more on the next 10 plants after that, but if this comes anywhere close to panning out, seems like a net benefit.