Australian Politics Forum - Should we switch to nuclear power generation?

Jovial Monk

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Should we switch to nuclear power generation?
Jul 23^rd, 2017 at 4:22pm

Those who can see AGW hitting the world want to do what we can to reduce the amount of CO2 we add to the atmosphere. Replacing coal generators with nuclear ones is one way of doing that.

Lots of hysteria, of course, about nuclear energy “Chernobyl!” “Three Mile Island!” “Fukushima!” go the NIMBYs.

Bah! Modern nuclear is safe and we can site it well away from faults and tsunamis!

I am one who says we need to start building nuclear powered generators. The English, the French, the Chinese, Indians and seppos will be happy to sell us modern, safe technology.

The present shambolic Lib govt is not planning at all to replace all the coal fired generators that will reach their end of life over the next couple of decades. Hell, looking at the day after tomorrow is too big a reach for the Libs! But we need to start NOW to plan for nuclear energy!

Those reacting “No no no might blow up!” modern plants won’t blow up. But coal fired generators emitting particulate emissions cause respiratory diseases, even death, for those living around/downwind of them. Coal is not risk free!

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Jovial Monk Gold Member Offline Dogs not cats! Posts: 51474 Gender:	Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation? Reply #1 - Jul 23^rd, 2017 at 4:22pm Here is a transcript of a discussion of nuclear energy: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6172217
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Grendel

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Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation?
Reply #2 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:22am

This from the Champion of the Environment and the AGW Alarmist Supreme.

Questions...
How long does it take to build, authorise and bring online a nuclear power Station?
How much do they cost?
How dangerous to life and the environment is radioactive waste?
What is a half-life and what is the average of today's waste products?

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Jovial Monk

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Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation?
Reply #3 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:33am

Modular reactors.

Will take whatever time it takes. With several coal fired generators reaching the end of life over the next 20 years it makes sense to plan and start building them now.

A half life is the time for half of the radioactivity to be used up.

Deniers call anybody who can see AGW progressing an alarmist. I reject that term. I am not an alarmist but I point out what is happening.

We have abundant places to store waste safely.

Hopefully fusion will become commercial soon but we cannot trust the power we need as a nation to a hope.

I am an environmentalist: we only have one planet, no plan B! The most urgent need is to reduce GHG emissions. If nuclear will let us have that then let us go nuclear.

I have long been an advocate for nuclear power.

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John Smith Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 78311 Gender:	Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation? Reply #4 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:37am Jovial Monk wrote on Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:33am: We have abundant places to store waste safely. for how long?
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Jovial Monk Gold Member Offline Dogs not cats! Posts: 51474 Gender:	Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation? Reply #5 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:39am A billion years? 2/3 or Australia is craton—stable.
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Gordon Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 21970 Gordon Gender:	Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation? Reply #6 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:40am I'm pro nuclear for air pollution and geo-political reasons. Australia should have 5 reactors and we could ween ourselves off oil and it's toxic emissions and the toxic wahhiabism that it funds.
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John Smith Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 78311 Gender:	Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation? Reply #7 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:43am Jovial Monk wrote on Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:39am: A billion years? 2/3 or Australia is craton—stable. How can you say it'll be safely stored anywhere beyond the next 50 yrs? The world is far different to what it was a centruy ago, let alone 1 billion years ago.
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Jovial Monk

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Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation?
Reply #8 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:43am

If we put a nice big nuke somewhere near Pt Augusta. It has all the infrastructure (cables & towers etc) to serve SA and no doubt a Riverland interconnector could be built to sell power to NSW.

The “Iron Triangle” at the top of Spencers Gulf would get a real boost. Aluminium smelters would relocate there, etc, a new nuclear engineering faculty would be created there. Waste heat could be used to desalinate water for Eyre Peninsula, etc.

And as coal fired generators close we drastically cut our GHG emissions.

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Prime Minister for Canyons

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Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation?
Reply #9 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:53am

John Smith wrote on Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:43am:

Jovial Monk wrote on Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:39am:

A billion years? 2/3 or Australia is craton—stable.

How can you say it'll be safely stored anywhere beyond the next 50 yrs? The world is far different to what it was a centruy ago, let alone 1 billion years ago.

Geologically, not really.

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In a time of universal deceit — telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

No evidence whatsoever it can be attributed to George Orwell or Eric Arthur Blair (in fact the same guy)

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BigOl64

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Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation?
Reply #10 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 10:36am

Jovial Monk wrote on Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:43am:

If we put a nice big nuke somewhere near Pt Augusta. It has all the infrastructure (cables & towers etc) to serve SA and no doubt a Riverland interconnector could be built to sell power to NSW.

The “Iron Triangle” at the top of Spencers Gulf would get a real boost. Aluminium smelters would relocate there, etc, a new nuclear engineering faculty would be created there. Waste heat could be used to desalinate water for Eyre Peninsula, etc.

And as coal fired generators close we drastically cut our GHG emissions.

The further away the power source the greater the drop off due to resistance in the transmission lines, for example the power for NQLD comes initial from Gladstone over 1000 kms away. That power loss is around 30% which is added to our power bills and makes for a sh1tty bill every quarter.

So unless you main user is within a few 100 kms from the power it will be a tough sell.

Also our carbon output is about 1% of the entire planets carbon output, we don't need to "drastically cut our GHG emissions"

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Jovial Monk Gold Member Offline Dogs not cats! Posts: 51474 Gender:	Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation? Reply #11 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 10:37am We should do our bit.
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BigOl64 Gold Member Offline Posts: 14438 Townsville QLD Gender:	Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation? Reply #12 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 10:42am Jovial Monk wrote on Jul 24^th, 2017 at 10:37am: We should do our bit. A very small and inexpensive bit, for sure
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Jovial Monk Gold Member Offline Dogs not cats! Posts: 51474 Gender:	Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation? Reply #13 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 10:44am Like replacing coal fired generators as they reach end of life with nuclear. Doesn’t mean we don’t continue with renewable energy. Can’t see why a suitable site for a nuke plant could not be found in FNQ, power FNQ and some of the NT.
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John Smith

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Re: Should we switch to nuclear power generation?
Reply #14 - Jul 24^th, 2017 at 10:50am

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:53am:

John Smith wrote on Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:43am:

Jovial Monk wrote on Jul 24^th, 2017 at 9:39am:

A billion years? 2/3 or Australia is craton—stable.

How can you say it'll be safely stored anywhere beyond the next 50 yrs? The world is far different to what it was a centruy ago, let alone 1 billion years ago.

Geologically, not really.

geopolitically?

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Our esteemed leader:
I hope that bitch who was running their brothels for them gets raped with a cactus.

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Poll
Question: Should Australia consider changing to nuclear energy generation?
* This poll has now closed *
No—too much danger 4 (80.0%) Yes—AGW, baseload power 1 (20.0%) Don’t know 0 (0.0%) Total votes: 5 « Created by: Jovial Monk on: Jul 25^th, 2017 at 10:42am »