Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

hunter

(40,476 posts)
13. Integrating solar and wind power into a reliable electric grid is expensive.
Wed Jan 28, 2026, 06:28 PM
Jan 28

Nations and states with aggressive renewable energy programs tend to have the most expensive electricity in the "developed" world and rarely reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to the extent it will matter in the long term; the exception being places with extensive hydroelectric resources which are environmentally destructive in their own way.

Disposing of nuclear waste is a solved problem. Disposing of fossil fuel waste is not.

It's always interesting to compare the carbon intensity of electric power generation in nuclear France to Germany or Denmark:

https://app.electricitymaps.com/map/zone/DE/12mo/monthly

Welcome to DU.

In my youth I was a hard-core anti-nuclear activist. Now I'm not.

Renewable energy cannot support earth's current population of 8 billion humans. We've worked ourselves into a corner. If we continue to burn fossil fuels then billions of people will suffer and die. If we don't have reliable large scale energy sources then billions of people will suffer and die.

Nuclear power is the only energy resource capable of displacing fossil fuels entirely. Quitting fossil fuels is something we must do.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

This maladminstration is worse than Wrongway Feldon UpInArms Jan 28 #1
Well that's a disturbing headline kerouac2 Jan 28 #2
No way will that hold in court angrychair Jan 28 #3
More from the article: mahatmakanejeeves Jan 28 #5
Seems obvious, right? yellow dahlia Jan 28 #15
I posted about this in GD to highlight that this was done as a favor for the AI bros: highplainsdem Jan 28 #4
A nation is not just real estate... GiqueCee Jan 28 #6
He gets off on gore and death. yellow dahlia Jan 28 #16
Dump: Who cares about nuclear safety anyway? sakabatou Jan 28 #7
It would be interesting if people were as concerned with fossil fuel exposures... NNadir Jan 28 #8
That's comforting Bayard Jan 28 #9
It will be fossil fuels that destroy the natural world as we know it and kill billions of people. hunter Jan 28 #10
What about the nuclear plant construction costs and the waste fuel. DougBee Jan 28 #11
Welcome to DU ! KS Toronado Jan 28 #12
Integrating solar and wind power into a reliable electric grid is expensive. hunter Jan 28 #13
Why do I keep reading and hearing KS Toronado Jan 29 #19
It's an accounting trick. Or a damnable lie. hunter Jan 29 #21
Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Jan 29 #20
A VERY big deal. Expect another lawsuit that the regime will lose. pat_k Jan 28 #14
Such a big deal - for many reasons. yellow dahlia Jan 28 #18
You say, "Paperwork." I hear, "Profit." Kid Berwyn Jan 28 #17
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»The Trump administration ...»Reply #13