Should Ireland go Nuclear and become carbon free?

[Some user]

Are the government afraid to trust the scientists? Are we totally paranoid about a fuel source that yields massive volumes of energy. I think we should at the very least buy our electricity from nuclear powers like France when that European inter connector thing gets going.

It would be a great way of reducing carbon emmisions in the short term. It looks like years and years before we'll see tidal making an impact and there's only so much wind power can provide no matter how many wind farms we erect.

Your view?

[Roman Abramovich]

yes they should.

[Tube a Pringles]

Seconded

[Dwyer On Fire]

Turded.

[legend76]

Saw a very compelling documentary a few months ago, where a former anti-nuclear green activist was making the point, that Nuclear power might in fact be the 'greenest' solution to an impending energy crisis, simply because other forms of renewable energy are not advanced enough to take up the slack, without civilisation regressing to quite literal dark ages.

So a resounding yes.

[mrbobdobalina]

The option should be considered, though I am not sure if I would trust our glorious leaders to run it.

[sixes]

doing a course in sustainable development at the mo and the general concensus seems to be to go Nuclear seeing as we are one of the largest importers of energy resources in europe.

Cant really look to keep goin the way we're going so i'd have to lean towards YES, but not without considerable reservations and a continued analysis of other means (i.e. Wind power)

[corkgirl]

Legend76 - You don't remember where you saw that documentary by any chance. I'm researching something for work and it could be handy!

[Tube a Pringles]

Legend76 - You don't remember where you saw that documentary by any chance. I'm researching something for work and it could be handy!

It was possibly James Lovelock. Do a web search on his current feelings on the subject.

[starchaser]

Are the government afraid to trust the scientists? Are we totally paranoid about a fuel source that yields massive volumes of energy. I think we should at the very least buy our electricity from nuclear powers like France when that European inter connector thing gets going.

It would be a great way of reducing carbon emmisions in the short term. It looks like years and years before we'll see tidal making an impact and there's only so much wind power can provide no matter how many wind farms we erect.

Your view?

yes. lots and lots of nuclear. the Chinese and Indians are grabbing all the oil that they can, so its quite obvious that oil prices will rise in the future. Nuclear gives us energy independence and enough power to encourage several more Googleplexes in Dublin.

Data centers are major consumers of energy - if Ireland is going to expand further into the hi-tech realm, then we have to start thinking about energy independence.

wind power and other green nutcase schemes just wont cut it - the energy source has to be reliable and constant - and thats what nuclear gives us.

large amounts of money spent on fusion research wouldnt be a bad idea either. if we put our minds to it, ireland could become the fusion centre of the world,much as Iceland is now moving to a hydrogen economy (thanks to their limitless geothermal energy..)... all it takes is political will to do it. we cant survive on the turf of bord na mona forever like.

[Taste]

Bertie called it "fool's gold" last week.

[Langer Dan]

yes.

nuke the whales.

[Artmustang]

Cant really look to keep goin the way we're going so i'd have to lean towards YES, but not without considerable reservations and a continued analysis of other means (i.e. Wind power)

I'll say let's go Nuclear too but like what sixes said there should be a continued research for other means..

[sixes]

I'll say let's go Nuclear too but like what sixes said there should be a continued research for other means..


The only problem with my statement is the fact that Wind Power research has been stiffled by public unrest about the safety of wind power.

People claim that they

A) ruin the landscape of the countryside
B) are hazardous and cause mudslides (which they have in the past)

It seems the Irish public dont exactly know what they want at the moment.

[KolaKubes]

I think the great irony is that in staving off the threat presented by nuclear power we paved the way for the problems with greenhouse gas emissions.

So, yes, but lets go nuclear for the right reasons rather than dickhead business interests.

[sixes]

Similar to what Kola said above, Ireland did shoot itself in the foot in the mid 70's by treating the nuclear question as one dimensional.

we only saw the catostrophic (but highly improbable) dangers involved and instead, have become the largest importer of fuels in the E.U and therefore, began to lead the count in GGE's per person in the EU.

Dont think any government will have the balls to bring it in within the next 30 years tho

[Beano]

Im with Sixes and KolaKube. I think the real problem is what they do with the waste products and the fact that Uranium supplies will only last for anther 100 years anyway