I have been pro-nuclear for more than a decade, but it is clear that it has lost politically at this point. I used to say that we needed a 40 years nuclear transition so that the solar tech could catch up. We are almost there. We sadly relied on oil and coal instead to develop these tech but we finally are here and it will soon start to make sense to advocate for a direct transition from fossil fuels to renewables.

  • schroedingershat@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Solar has no waste issues other generation does not. This is a pro-fossil fuel talking point.

    The average lifetime of a nuclear plant at shutdown is 25 years and there is more material consumed per capacity-adjusted watt than with solar. Then there is as much material consumed again as low level and conventional waste, but unlike PV, none of it is recyclable.

    Wind consumes more material in the foundations, but used blades (the part people claim is a problem) are insignificant and inert compared to waste from fossil fuels or nuclear.