My comment was mostly tongue-in-cheek, but also the time-value of money on constructing a new nuclear plant is a very real problem. Yes, we should be using a massive, mature, and mostly-carbon-neutral energy source. However, due to economic factors, we can build a lot of renewables capacity before the site planning is even done on a new nuclear power plant. It’s a lot easier to finance a new renewables facility that is generating revenue pretty quickly.
Site planning and finance can be as painful for renewable as it can be for nuclear. It’s an administrative process so the whole depends on political will and how easy they make it. It also depends on civil opposition, but nowadays you have as many eco fanatics against nuclear than you have stupid conservative against renewables.
I do because that discussion is very common these days. 7.5 years is the mean construction time.
My comment was mostly tongue-in-cheek, but also the time-value of money on constructing a new nuclear plant is a very real problem. Yes, we should be using a massive, mature, and mostly-carbon-neutral energy source. However, due to economic factors, we can build a lot of renewables capacity before the site planning is even done on a new nuclear power plant. It’s a lot easier to finance a new renewables facility that is generating revenue pretty quickly.
Site planning and finance can be as painful for renewable as it can be for nuclear. It’s an administrative process so the whole depends on political will and how easy they make it. It also depends on civil opposition, but nowadays you have as many eco fanatics against nuclear than you have stupid conservative against renewables.