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Rather see Gates start a nuclear energy company, with radical new designs that focus on safety, widely distributed, low cost, zero emissions. He's invested in
by TheFuture 15y ago
Rather see Gates start a nuclear energy company, with radical new designs that focus on safety, widely distributed, low cost, zero emissions.
He's invested in such companies, but I'd love to see him really push it as CEO. He's done/doing great philanthropic work in the 3rd world. Cheap, clean, and available electrical power would do wonders for poor countries. 1MW nuclear reactor in a shipping container, runs for 30 years with no maintenance, no harmful radioactive waste? It could happen if we stop chasing foolish "green" energy windmills and solar panels.
- cryptoz 15y agoI agreed with you right up to the last sentence. > It could happen if we stop chasing foolish "green" energy windmills and solar panels. What? How are the two things even related at all? How are solar panels foolish? Why put "green" in quotes? The reason that nuclear power isn't getting the attention it deserves is not that other 'alternative energy' projects get the attention. It's much more that governments and corporations are locked in to dirty energy and are having a tough time getting out. Don't blame nuclear's current failures on solar panels.
- redthrowaway 15y agoI would argue that ethanol subsidies are currently a barrier to wiser energy policies, however.
- TheFuture 15y agoEthanol subsidies are terrible. We need to stop holding presidential primaries in Iowa.
- redthrowaway 15y agoOr just randomize the order you hold them in.
- TheFuture 15y agoCovering millions of acres of land with windmills isn't green to me. At worst windfarms kill wildlife, destroy property values, create noise pollution, create shadow flicker. At best they turn a natural landscape into an industrial zone for the sake of unreliable power that has no immediate future chance of being practical. Ditto for solar. The future is not centralized power generation that eats up vast amounts of land, and then transmitting the power thousands of miles on wires where the majority of it is lost. Nuclear isn't getting attention because of irrational fear that liberals and the government promote. Gates would have a tough job, but he's someone with the resources to lobby govt, and get trusted and respected people to start taking nuclear seriously. Perhaps after Gates starts building these reactors in other countries, the green zealots will finally get discredited. Seriously, why is someone with billions of dollars, huge influence and power, and a strong advocate of reducing carbon emissions, why is he NOT building a solar and wind power company? And why is it that the people who are making money off solar and wind seem to get all their profits through government subsidies? http://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Bill-Gates-to-Build-Nuclear-Reactors-in-China.html http://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Bill-Ga...