tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9138994904411225576.post2377996160276017141..comments2023-12-29T00:08:21.051-08:00Comments on fear of a red planet: Fukushima and the future of nuclear powerGilman Grundyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607416440240634159noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9138994904411225576.post-32674588343362817322011-03-18T02:40:49.822-07:002011-03-18T02:40:49.822-07:00No prob, FOARP.Cool comments can wait.No prob, FOARP.Cool comments can wait.justrecentlyhttp://justrecently.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9138994904411225576.post-42730402232401023442011-03-17T13:45:09.324-07:002011-03-17T13:45:09.324-07:00@JR - Sorry about you getting blocked there. Blogs...@JR - Sorry about you getting blocked there. Blogspot just doesn't seem capable of handling links in the comments, and there's seemingly no way of turning it off.Gilman Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06607416440240634159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9138994904411225576.post-34032528140525975482011-03-17T13:36:58.198-07:002011-03-17T13:36:58.198-07:00The phase-out was negotiated by former chancellor ...The phase-out was negotiated by former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerhard_Schr%C3%B6der#Schr.C3.B6der.27s_first_cabinet_.2827_October_1998_.E2.80.93_22_October_2002.29" rel="nofollow">red-green government (1998 - 2005)</a>. The Greens had always been opposed to nuclear fuel, and the SPD (social democrats) had become opposed to it over the decades, since the mid-1980s. <br /><br />Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right government might have preferred to reverse the agreement between the state and the energy suppliers altogether, but that would have been difficult to do, as the public was mostly favoring an early phase-out. So they rather <i>prolonged</i> the phase-out, only a few months ago. Not sure about the duration originally planned, and the duration according to the current government's (original) plans. <br /><br />It should be noted that - reportedly - not only the seven plants which are to be switched off during the review process, but even two more, could be switched off, and we would still have the energy reserve the pertaining policy requires. According to a "Süddeutsche Zeitung" report of today (printed edition), here's therefore excess supply of energy. It could make sense to switch all pre-1980s plants off for good.justrecentlyhttp://justrecently.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9138994904411225576.post-91753355990141725442011-03-16T23:56:42.820-07:002011-03-16T23:56:42.820-07:00What is the context of the phase out? Is it becaus...What is the context of the phase out? Is it because of fear, or is there some ulterior motive, such as close connections between coal firms and the current center-right gov't, which already has a bunch of new coal plants going in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9138994904411225576.post-10697879303347879372011-03-16T03:25:46.530-07:002011-03-16T03:25:46.530-07:00The silliness of the German center-right federal g...The silliness of the German center-right federal government's (over)reaction lies in its inconsistency. There was a phase-out agreement in place when it came to power, negotiated by its social-democrat / green predecessors (negotiated with the energy suppliers, so as to avoid legal conflict or other costs for the public budgets). Chancellor Merkel's center-right government extended the phase-out period only a few months ago, and has now been caught flat-footed. <br /><br />Most Germans have been opposed to nuclear energy for decades, and in a democracy, I believe, you can't keep to a nuclear energy policy without public approval. If the previous phase-out duration had remained in place, there may not have been the need for a "review", let alone the knee-jerk "action" on seven of our nuclear plants now. <br /><br />Btw, at least in Germany, where the public is highly critical anyway, the nuclear industry and the energy suppliers appear to be unable to communicate transparently and honestly with the public when there are incidents of any kind. That's handicapping pro-nuclear politicians, too.justrecentlyhttp://justrecently.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com