[necrodawg]

Nuclear is pretty clean if the waste is dealt with properly and stored safely, until we figure out how to use it.

My understanding is that the radiation problem in Germany is since Chernobyl...

I don't think people's viewpoint on this issue has anything to do with nationality.

[germanier]

Germany started their nuclear power phase-out in 2002, well before Fukushima. In 2010 the Merkel government decided to extend the lifetime of the existing power plants by 8 to 14 years, which was heavily criticized at that time. The only thing the Fukushima 2011 incident resulted in was that the phase out was accelerated but it would have occurred nonetheless.

> if the waste is dealt with properly and stored safely

At least in Germany, nobody figured out yet how to store the waste properly for a long-time. Remember, that the country is densely populated. For example, take a look at the Asse II mine.

[necrodawg]

Fukushima had a big impact on nuclear policy in Germany. I'm just saying it doesn't make sense given its geological stability.

There's a world outside Germany. Pay someone outside Germany to deal with it.

[germanier]

Nobody has yet built a storage site for high-level waste. There are three attempts, the two German ones failed. WIPP in New Mexico looks promising but is far from perfect. Even for less-radioactive waste, the current situation doesn't look too good.

The thing is: No matter how often it is repeated, there is currently no safe place to store a sufficient volume of nuclear waste securely anywhere in the world. It's not just a simple question of "paying someone else".

Developing those sites seems possible but the solution to the waste problem isn't there yet.

[jpalomaki]

There's a storage site being build in Finland. Should ne ready to start accepting waste around 2020. The waste will ne stored in bedrock, around 450m below surface.

http://www.posiva.fi/en/final_disposal/onkalo

[julien_c]

If I'm not mistaken Germany shipped nuclear waste to Normandy, France (by train) a couple of times.

It didn't fly well with either public opinions, though.

[germanier]

They used the nuclear reprocessing plant in La Hague but that waste was shipped back to Germany afterwards. Same with the waste that was processed in Sellafield, though nothing has returned yet from there.

Using those sites for commercial waste is not allowed anymore since 2005 though.

[threeseed]

> waste is dealt with properly and stored safely

And how is that going ? Not good.

The biggest problem with nuclear waste that everyone keeps overlooking is the potent NIMBY issue. In democracies politicians need to do what their constituents want in order to survive. And constituents will forever be scared to the bone about nuclear waste anywhere near them.

[arrrg]

The simple political reality in Germany is that you will not be able to build nuclear power plants and that's that. Germany is a democracy and the will of the people will not allow it. All other considerations and discussions and arguments are wasted breath. Germany will have to do without it. I don't think that's so bad, all things considered. It's an interesting experiment and I'm quite optimistic.