France Will Be Home To Fusion Plant

ScentCone writes "After years of politicking, France has won the right to be the location for a $12 billion fusion research facility. The plant will use deuterium-from-seawater and a huge electromagnetic ring to produce the 100-million-C conditions in which researchers hope to produce viable fusion. The debate over whether this is even possible continues to rage. The ITER project started in 1985, and there has been a running fight over money and location since. France indicated that if Japan (one of the holdouts) didn't see it their way, they'd build a coalition of the willing and do it anyway. With financing and contracting agreements in place, the 10-year construction can begin." Coverage also available at MSNBC, the NYTimes, CNN, and the BBC.

Comments

How do the people of France like this?

[John Seminal]

Would you want the newest and most experimental nuclear research facility in your neighborhood?

They should build these plants in less populated areas, like Africa. In addition to the research center, they can build a hotel, maybe create some jobs.

I hope the by-products from this nuclear plant, all the magnets, and the other uncountable changes won't ruin the soil or rain, and affect the quality of french wines. I keep hearing that next to Fermi Labs, there are now snakes with two heads and albino deer, all this stuff did not exists before they started their research.

Japan or France

[mikejz84]

In a era where we are in grave need of new energy sources, we decide to build it in a country with a 35-hour workweek. God help us.

Is that ten years

[overshoot]

ten calendar year or ten French labor-law years?

If you subtract out every summer and figure a four-day workweek, how long will it actually take?

Re:France says NIMBY?

[AviLazar]

If I am not mistaken, the big risk to fusion methods (at least until we get the process right) is the big explosion. No it is not radioactive, but it is still a big HONKIN explosion.

I would not recommend any country that is less then stable - and many African countires are unstable.

Summary:

[imsabbel]

They got money!
My pet project didnt!
This sucks!

(and i wouldnt want money to be given to some ball-lighning gurus either....)

Re:Intolerable

[rainman_bc]

Logging

The day I see one person from greenpeace wipe their ass with cloth, or read a book made from hemp is the day I'll respect them. Until then, they lack credibility with me. They still wipe their ass with toilet paper like everyone...

Re:The Complete Military History of France

[cashman73]

But obviously the word, "asshole" is clearly still french. Because (a) you commonly hear the phrase, "pardon my french, but you're an asshole," or some variant thereof. (b) The french desperately need a good word to describe themselves, and since they have such enlarged anuses from being buttf***ed so many times in history, "asshole" seems most appropriate.

Re:When did Greenpeace become anti-energy

[timeOday]

Tell me more about Iraq's nuclear program.

I didn't think so.

Re:The Complete Military History of France

[Cinquain]

Did you ever notice that there is no personal hygiene words of french origin! The first one that comes to ones mind is really of Italian origin and came out - not surprisingly - around the time the Italians invaded France. Look it up!

Re:When did Greenpeace become anti-energy

[DigiShaman]

You are wrong on so many accounts it's rather scary.

1. The bible belt has nothing to do with the distruction of eastern civilization. If anything, you will find most if not all major global terrorist activity by religious zelots are those who practice the faith of Islam. That is a fact.

2. Iraq not only was, but still IS harbouring terrorists. In fact, Al Qaeda even said so as much. And their main reason for being there is to explicitly prevent democrocy as it goes against the faith of Islam (their words, not mine).

3. As for violent enemies, they are already there. However, now we know what it takes to identify, isolate, and expunge them from society that wishes to do harm to innocent civilians. Remember, we are not at war with Iraq. We are at war with Islamic radicals on Iraqi soil. Keep that in mind next time you hear of a bombing at local mosque...again *sigh*.