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"selling this idea to the private-sector energy industry was an uphill battle" Could you elaborate on the why? I would asume, because of risk. A solar plant, y

"selling this idea to the private-sector energy industry was an uphill battle" Could you elaborate on the why? I would asume, because of risk. A solar plant, you can more or less just put anywhere, but a nuclear power plant, even a small one, needs state permission, has to meet extensive regulation, etc. It would need some convincing for me, too, that a nuclear reactor can be just a drop in replacement for coal. I would think unknown risks, hidden costs due to regulations, neverending building, etc. And are we talking about a battle tested design, or is it new technology? That sounds extra risky.

bozhark 4y ago
Sounds like a good time to get into the energy sector. Time for an HN Wind, water, solar, and nuclear company start-up. Who’s in?
- _1tan 4y ago
  Here, email is avg@duck.com
- samstave 4y ago
  There was a nuclear startup that came through YC a few years back... what happened to them?
  - pnw 4y ago
    Oklo is still around, recent news article wasn’t great though. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29937836 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29937836
- cupofpython 4y ago
  I have government contracting experience in construction management QAQC
- vegetablepotpie 4y ago
  Looking at the energy landscape the most significant area for innovation is with government relations. There exist green energy companies, and their biggest barrier to growth is government policy. For example, when Green Mountain energy wanted to sell to customers in AZ in 2021, SRP, one of the states largest utilities, pushed the state to repeal the competition laws it had on the books for 24 years. HB2101 was introduced in January to do this and it was signed by governor Doug Ducey in April. This gutted the states policy to have a competitive energy market and stopped the expansion of Green Mountain into the state. You need friendly environments to operate in. Existing players like their monopolies, and they have the political connections to use the force of law to shut down your energy startup. You may have to plan to spend most of your investors money on Lobbyists and Lawyers. https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2022/02/10/arizona-utilities-team-up-legislators-block-competition/6740768001/ https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/...
7952 4y ago
Not the parent but have some experience with this on the UK. Typically energy companies will start with the technology they want to develop and then find a site that will suit it. Starting with the plot of land is the wrong way around. And existing decomissioned sites are just an asset like any other. They may be sold for a distribution centre or a data centre. And the grid connection may be used by a new power station built on a neighboring plot or to connect an offshore wind farm.

bozhark 4y ago

Sounds like a good time to get into the energy sector. Time for an HN Wind, water, solar, and nuclear company start-up. Who’s in?

_1tan 4y ago
Here, email is avg@duck.com
samstave 4y ago
There was a nuclear startup that came through YC a few years back... what happened to them?
- pnw 4y ago
  Oklo is still around, recent news article wasn’t great though. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29937836 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29937836
cupofpython 4y ago
I have government contracting experience in construction management QAQC
vegetablepotpie 4y ago
Looking at the energy landscape the most significant area for innovation is with government relations. There exist green energy companies, and their biggest barrier to growth is government policy. For example, when Green Mountain energy wanted to sell to customers in AZ in 2021, SRP, one of the states largest utilities, pushed the state to repeal the competition laws it had on the books for 24 years. HB2101 was introduced in January to do this and it was signed by governor Doug Ducey in April. This gutted the states policy to have a competitive energy market and stopped the expansion of Green Mountain into the state. You need friendly environments to operate in. Existing players like their monopolies, and they have the political connections to use the force of law to shut down your energy startup. You may have to plan to spend most of your investors money on Lobbyists and Lawyers. https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2022/02/10/arizona-utilities-team-up-legislators-block-competition/6740768001/ https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/...

7952 4y ago

Not the parent but have some experience with this on the UK. Typically energy companies will start with the technology they want to develop and then find a site that will suit it. Starting with the plot of land is the wrong way around. And existing decomissioned sites are just an asset like any other. They may be sold for a distribution centre or a data centre. And the grid connection may be used by a new power station built on a neighboring plot or to connect an offshore wind farm.