Posted on 06/12/2021 4:01:44 PM PDT by Eddie01
The Microsoft co-founder, who has donated more than $50 billion to philanthropic causes since 1994, has in recent years focused his attention on climate change, which he considers one of the most acute problems facing humanity. He has spearheaded several initiatives on the research and development of clean energy.
Bill Gates has called on US authorities to build new nuclear reactors in order to deal with climate change. Speaking at the Nuclear Energy Assembly, organised by a US nuclear trade industry association, the 65-year-old drew attention to the number of nuclear reactors in the country slated for retirement, noting that they are more than the new reactors under construction.
"If we’re serious about solving climate change, and quite frankly we have to be, the first thing we should do is keep safe reactors operating. Even then, just maintaining that status quo is not enough. We need more nuclear power to zero out emissions in America and to prevent a climate disaster", said Gates.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, 2021 could set a record for the biggest number of retired nuclear reactors.
The Gates-founded company TerraPower is building next generation nuclear power plants using Natrium technology, which features a cost-competitive sodium fast reactor combined with a molten salt energy storage system. The company says its advanced power plants will become a path to clean energy.
Last October, the US Department of Energy invested 80 million in TerraPower as well as other companies producing next generation nuclear plants.
However, Gates' argument that nuclear power will help the world deal with climate change and get to zero emissions by 2050 has been disputed by scientists.
Professor Mark Z. Jacobson, who has added his signature to a public petition calling on the international community to transition to 100 percent renewable energy, says investing in nuclear energy will instead lead to a climate disaster. Jacobson points to the risks related to the use of nuclear energy, including meltdowns, radioactive waste, and uranium mining. He also emphasises that it will take a long time to build nuclear power plants, something the world can’t afford at the moment.
Anyway we can do more hydro??
Even a stopped clock is correct...you know the rest.
Couldn’t have them before, but now we can?
Because Bill gets to own them, I’m educated-guessing.
Just don’t build the Chernobyl model.
warren buffet too.
amazing innit?
the great hydro damns are damn near dry
If you really believe that climate change is a huge problem, logically you must support nuclear power. Bill Gates is an outlier in that his position is consistent. The others continue to believe that the world can be powered by solar and wind power without reverting to a pre-industrial economy.
I believe the Chinese will be the first to solve the fusion reactor problems and will have the world begging at their feet for the power it produces.
Gates gets something right?
“He also emphasises that it will take a long time to build nuclear power plants, something the world can’t afford at the moment.”
It will take a long time?? Better not start, then!
Good luck getting the American left to go along with that.
It is hard to believe he said this. It would be really great if we could team with India to make thorium reactors because there is so much of this element and we aren’t using it. And best is the US, India and Australia have the biggest reserves. Isn’t that a good combination of countries?
Not unless you can find a river we can dam without killing any bugs, salamanders, fish, plants, etc. There have not been any new hydro electric dams built in the U.S. since the 1960s or 70s. Electric generation at existing dams have been upgraded, but no new dams.
And Gated happens to own a nuclear power company. Did he bet someone he’d be the richest human by 2129?
Just shut up Gates. You make any idea shady and bad. Go the hell away.
“I agree with Bill Gates. WTF?”
He and Buffett were just approved to build a hybrid Nuke plant in Wyoming. No coincidence.
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