Japan on gas, coal power building spree to fill nuclear void

[kristopher]

10. That is pretty simplistic thinking that ignores many dimensions of the issue

The consequences of the Fukushima meltdown are unquestionable - the Japanese are rejecting nuclear power even after investing hundreds of billions of dollars in building the infrastructure.

Let me repeat that - the Japanese are rejecting nuclear power even after investing hundreds of billions of dollars in building the infrastructure.

That is a real, undeniable aspect of nuclear power - it has accidents that are hugely consequential to the social and economic fabric of their human environment.
- AND (unsurprisingly) those accidents are nowhere near as rare as they are portrayed by the people who profit from the risk faced by the public.

Suppose that the world were to go crazy and actually follow your wish for heavy investment in nuclear for the next 15 years until the next Level 7 accident. And further suppose that, this time the wind is blowing towards the Future Nearby Major City rather than out to sea like it was in Tokyo.

What do you think will happen to the world's carbon footprint when the inevitable happens and that major population and economic center has to be abandoned at a cost of tens of trillions of dollars?