I wonder if the popular HBO show Chernobyl will add any fuel to this fire. It paints nuclear power in a very bad light (albeit fairly — Chernobyl was horrific).
I’m afraid it could cause some serious resistance to nuclear power, which could be a very important solution to energy security and aspects of global warming.
I’ve always wondered whether show writers consider this. It’s similar to the ER/medical shows where an organ donor turns out to still be alive or something like that. I wonder if they consider the potential damage that has on organ donation and the ramifications of turning off so many people from signing up to be a donor.
I haven't seen the HBO show (although I've watched the BBC documentary some have said it's based on), but while radiation is creepy I actually find it a strangely encouraging story. It took a lot of screwups and broken safety culture for things to get that bad, and the serious consequences were quite localized. If Chernobyl is the bar we have to clear for safe nuclear power - well, that doesn't seem too hard!
I guess that's probably an unusual perspective though, and most people will just be reminded that radiation is scary.
Nuclear has been and continues to be viable economically speaking in several countries. France is currently selling nuclear power to providers at about 7 cents per kWh. If simpler and safer designs are approved we can see huge improvements in this area.
However it is starting to look like improvements in battery technology will make nuclear unnecessary in the long run and wind/solar are getting to be insanely cheap. New pressurized water nuclear plants would be impractical at this point for sure. Molten salt thermal neutron reactors are promising, but even a test reactor for them is more than 5 years away at which point solar and wind will be even cheaper.
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[ 3.6 ms ] story [ 28.3 ms ] threadI’m afraid it could cause some serious resistance to nuclear power, which could be a very important solution to energy security and aspects of global warming.
I’ve always wondered whether show writers consider this. It’s similar to the ER/medical shows where an organ donor turns out to still be alive or something like that. I wonder if they consider the potential damage that has on organ donation and the ramifications of turning off so many people from signing up to be a donor.
I guess that's probably an unusual perspective though, and most people will just be reminded that radiation is scary.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/#39d03420b...
Why Climate Activists Threaten Endangered Species With Extinction
Why Fear of Nuclear Threatens National Security And World Peace
Top UCLA Doctor Denounces HBO's "Chernobyl" As Wrong And "Dangerous"
Why HBO's "Chernobyl" Gets Nuclear So Wrong
And my personal favourite:
We Shouldn't Be Surprised Renewables Make Energy Expensive Since That's Always Been The Greens' Goal
Note these aren't cherry picked these are literally his last few articles.
Ironic that he used to use the argument that environmentalists undermined their own argument with their strident tone, painting the IPCC as activists.
However it is starting to look like improvements in battery technology will make nuclear unnecessary in the long run and wind/solar are getting to be insanely cheap. New pressurized water nuclear plants would be impractical at this point for sure. Molten salt thermal neutron reactors are promising, but even a test reactor for them is more than 5 years away at which point solar and wind will be even cheaper.