The truth about Vermont

[Ksheed]

Pushing close to poly-sci, but a good read for all in the utility sector.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2019/02/07/green-new-deal-excludes-nuclear-and-would-thus-increase-emissions-just-like-it-did-in-vermont/amp/


Hopefully the link works, I usually don't post from my phone....

[scotoma]

Back in the 80s, 90s, and beyond, the rich urban and suburban moved to Vermont for it's bucolic lifestyle and pristine mountain scenery. Many wanted VY shutdown, but many more wanted it to keep running because it gave them the energy they needed and it was not in their backyard. Now that VY is shutdown and Vermont pushes for renewables, that pristine landscape is being replaced by highly visible (and ugly) wind farms and solar farms. How many trees are you going to have to cut down to keep your solar panels clear and your wind gaps open? It should be no surprise that when you shutdown a nuclear plant that provides most of your electricity that your CO2 emissions are going to go up. Especially in an area where the sunshine is below average and the wind is sporadic. What are they going to do when the sun don't shine and the wind don't blow for several days? I've lived in Vermont, it happens frequently.

[Marlin]

Rather than move the topic to PolySci I started a parallel thread and will transfer posts to here as appropriate:

https://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,45836.msg207290/topicseen.html#new

[hamsamich]

Nuclear energy is a strange animal for the left....it could solve alot of our stated need for carbon free power in a world where solar and wind can't cut it ...yet (we will see, I'm not seeing it)....but left voters seem loathe to embrace (nuclear) it due to its fairly recent vilification by environmental groups...so I think the left politicians like to kind of ignore it as much as possible so they have a better chance of getting elected.  I'm sure that annoys pro nuclear power leftys.

[GLW]

..... What are they going to do when the sun don't shine and the wind don't blow for several days?......

burn more gas,...

lots more,....

[SloGlo]

...so I think the left politicians like to kind of ignore it as much as possible so they have a better chance of getting elected.  I'm sure that annoys pro nuclear power leftys.

eye no that the governor of pea ay has know mind to entertain keeping the nukes running. yep, its irritating. yep, aye send him every url re: pro nuke and anti fossil wit anti-renewables two.

[Brett LaVigne]

  I'm sure that annoys pro nuclear power leftys.

As a Pro-Nuclear Lefty, it is extremely annoying. For as much as I can argue about Conservative's ignoring evidence and proof for what they WANT to be true, it is clearly an issue on the Left as well. I have plenty of Liberal friends that support Nuclear power, but that has certainly not taken hold with the majority yet. Human's are funny creatures. Once we latch on to something that we believe to be true, it is very difficult to admit that we may be wrong. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Pride can be a very poisonous thing.

Those of us who are in the position of knowing the actual benefits/risks of nuclear power, must engage in thoughtful and respectful dialog with the opposition whenever possible. I think the folks who champion these Green initiatives are well meaning, and I share their urgency to do what we can. But I believe they ignore (some willfully I think) demonstrable facts to appease their base.