Swiss To End Use of Nuclear Power

mdsolar writes "Energy minister Doris Leuthard is set to propose Switzerland gradually exits nuclear power, two Swiss newspapers reported on Sunday, citing sources close to the government. The multi-party Swiss government was expected to make an announcement on nuclear policy on Wednesday and may recommend an exit. Switzerland's five nuclear reactors generate about 40 percent of the country's electricity."

Comments

Headline Misleading

[Frosty Piss]

The Slashdot headline is (predictably?) not accurate. The Swiss *ARE NOT* ending nuclear power. Rather, there is a proposal to gradually exit nuclear power by not building any new plants. Realistically, even if such a proposal was approved by the current government, given the growing energy needs of society and the shrinking supply / rising cost / environmental issues associated with fossil fuels, I don't see this happening. The current technologies of renewable energy simply cannot support the world's energy needs.

So what's it going to be? Continue with fossil fuels, or continue developing safer cleaner nuclear? Switzerland's five nuclear reactors generate about 40 percent of the country's electricity, and the needs will only grow. What can realistically replace that?

Re:Headline Misleading

[yodleboy]

sadly, the same environmental crowd that demands an end to nuclear will stonewall that as well. Just saw a lovely article in Wired about the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generator in the Mojave. 5 1/2 square miles of mirrors. 5 1/2. guess what? the environmental crowd is suing to stop it on the grounds that those 5 1/2 square miles of sand are more important as habitat than a 60% increase in US solar generation. Yet they will no doubt be at the next anti-nuclear, anti-fossil fuel rally. What exactly are we supposed to use for power? Happy thoughts maybe?

Re:What will they replace it with?

[StripedCow]

They'll put a paddle-wheel in the cash-flow going to the nation's banks.

Posted by 'mdsolar'

[Rurik]

So an anti-nuclear story posted by a user named 'mdsolar' with a blog running very anti-nuclear posts. He also is involved in a business that rents solar systems to homes (http://www.blogger.com/profile/14124764472206647347).

Christ, Slashdot. Can you be a bit more opaque in posting biased stories?

Re:Posted by 'mdsolar'

[Anonymous Coward]

He also is involved in a business that rents solar systems

I recently heard about an entire country you can rent for $70,000/day, but now you can rent an entire solar system? How much does that cost?!

Re:What will they replace it with?

[Chelloveck]

The two papers reported Leuthard backed continuing to use current nuclear plants until the end of their lifespans, not building any new ones, and expanding alternative energy sources such as water power.

Ah. So in other words they don't have a plan yet. Unless you count "hoping really hard that something revolutionary will happen before our existing nuke plants wear out" to be a plan.

Re:What will they replace it with?

[nospam007]

"With France's economy of scale and a waste management infrastructure within it's own borders it has comparative advantage for nuclear power generation."

France builds reactors 1 mile from the border (Chooz, Cattenom, Fessenheim...), so in case of an accident, half of the damage goes to a foreign country. Sneaky.

Re:What will they replace it with?

[Shoe Puppet]

Nuclear reactors have to be built near rivers so they can use the water for the cooling. Sometimes these rivers just happen to constitute a border. In fact, most French reactors are fairly far away from any border.