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by forgotoldacc 616 days ago
There's something to be said for space. A nuclear reactor takes up far less land than an equivalent amount of wind and solar generation. That's quickly going to become a limiting factor in wind/solar rollout and already is in some smaller countries (unless they're willing to bulldoze their entire land to cover it in solar panels)
2 comments
notTooFarGone 616 days ago
Ok we can all agree that the US has not a land problem. This argument is relevant in Europe but the US has more than enough space power transmission is a problem but it's solvable.
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forgotoldacc 616 days ago
Just because the US has a lot of area doesn't mean it should all be paved over and turned into solar farms. "Who needs nature and green spaces? It could be cheap electricity instead" is a mindset the next generation will hate us for, just like our generation resents previous generations for thinking "Why not burn coal? It's cheap electricity and there's lots of air left."

The US has a massive green space problem. It's a country of roads, parking lots, and corn fields and it's a problem that's visible from space.

Don't take this as opposing solar energy. I support it versus fossil fuels. But if nuclear is viable, I'm for it.

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throwaway2037 615 days ago 

    > There's something to be said for space.
I see this argument a lot. Yes, the density is very high for nuclear power plants, but you need to build them in the middle of nowhere, for political and safety reasons. So, are we really saving space compared to solar? Plus, there is much less political resistance to solar farms, and almost zero safety issues (for PV).

This comment:

    > unless they're willing to bulldoze their entire land to cover it in solar panels
Your sentiment is interesting. No one says that when we talk about building new farms. Really, that is what people have done for the past 2000 years to alter our landscape. Can you imagine what Brazil looked like in 1800 vs today? Dramatic landscape changes due to farming. Same for US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. California has plenty of desert or very unproductive land that can be covered with solar panels.
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