Quote:
Originally Posted by FlashBazbo
You don't understand the grid. (I work in the industry.) Our antiquated grid NEEDS off-peak to keep the equipment together. It can't take peak load around the clock. And accepting tiny amounts of power from multiple sources is a lot bigger physics problem than people realize. You don't just plug in a new source. It impacts the balance of the entire system. And if something goes wrong, it gets ugly in a hurry. (The major U.S. blackouts of the last couple of decades have almost all been minor small-source issues that took big grids out of balance, and off-line.)
And the last nuke plant permitted in the U.S. took (hold your breath) THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS just for the permitting process. $78.5 million JUST FOR THE PERMITTING (with no money coming in)! Then, they shut down the project.
Power generation is a lot harder than the bureaucrats realize.
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Well, it seems the biggest problem is the bureaucrats themselves. I have faith that the NRC, etc will get things done quicker this time around though, re: approving new nuke plants. There are already proposals underway for a new generation of plants. Once the first few make it through the process, hopefully more will start. Nuke power is smart, and it's mostly ignorant fear on the part of the public that holds back nuclear plans
