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.
Blind Squirrel finds nut.
Guess he never saw “China Syndrome” or he’d know better. 😵💉
Darn. I’m going to have to rethink my support of nuclear.
As long as rich liberals have sufficient power for their 40,000 square foot homes and private jets that is all that matters. The unwashed masses can use mass transit to get to and from their jobs as servants and gardeners for the rich liberals.
We'll have to keep an eye on that liar.
First, disconnect his electricity and natural gas, and brick his automobile, so's he can enjoy the bucolic life he envisions for the rest of us.
THORIUM IS THE ANSWER. It is abundant and the residual waste is minimal. It works. Oddly we are hooked to uranium because of weapons programs. We needed the uranium cycle to produce plutonium for our bombs as did Russia and all other nuclear nations. That is what really happened.
He's just a lying POS.
If you think nuclear energy is clean, safe energy, you are a lunatic.
“Coal will kill us. Promise. Let’s put ticking time bombs everywhere, which produce waste that kills everything and never goes away.”
JohnMcLame wanted 50 of them.
Squirrel found a nut eh?
I don’t believe in global warming, but its a good pitch, because if you really did think carbon was a culprit, you’d have to love nuclear.
I do like the idea of many small generating packages rather than a single mega plant, just from the viewpoint of reliability. If a mega plant is down, you’ve got big problems. If one of several small plants are down for whatever reason, you swap your loads around and never miss a beat.
Generation IV are the cat’s @ss.
Generation IV.
Sodium cooled reactors are interesting.
I’m curious why everybody is ignoring Thorium
reactors, but you could put one in your back yard.
Can’t have Individuals operating without Democrat
oversight.
Controlled Fusion would be best, but given the lack of success over the last fifty years, tells me they are on the wrong path, they don’t have a clue, and are just doing enough to get Grant money and hope someone discovers something as they bungle through the Jungle.
We can safely do Fission. We understand it, it is abundant, and it really is cheap, if you keep the Karens out of it.
Even a blind squirrel...
I don’t know why you believe that.
All the chinks do is steal technology or reverse engineer it.
Yep.
Yes, this is good news. It uses nuclear waste as fuel and can never melt down.
These need to be built all along the California coast to support desalination plants. These could solve Californias water problem regardless of climate change, period.
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