[aaronbrethorst]

tech companies building nuclear reactors

I hope they build lots of them. The alternative is that they use fossil gas which continues to heat up our atmosphere. Nuclear fission is certainly not problem-free (Hanford, three mile island, Chernobyl, etc), but it’s a whole lot better than pushing us past 2°C.

[indigosun]

For clarity, I am pro nuclear power.

That said, I do worry specifically about tech companies interested in building nuclear power plants.

If it’s solely to fuel the silicon fire that is contemporary machine learning it’s a harrowing concept.

If it’s to both do that, and power the grid, then doubly so.

The consolidation of power in these few tech companies is already at concerning levels before handing them control of municipal energy.

[ben_w]

Nuclear and fossil are two alternatives, but renewables are a way to get rich while saving the planet.

More than one way to deal with night/winter too.

[aaronbrethorst]

I highly recommend listening to this conversation with Jigar Shah, the head of the DOE's Loan Programs Office on this very subject. https://www.volts.wtf/p/nuclear-perhaps