Yeah sure, let’s listen to that totally real AI lady and build new nuclear reactors. Just ignore that a sizable portion of the German people is still against nuclear energy. Just ignore that it costs more than building up renewable energy. Just ignore that even the energy companies don’t want to start building new nuclear reactors based on how risky that endeavour is. Just ignore that Germany still has no long term storage for nuclear waste. Just ignore the 15-year construction time that would do nothing to help our energy needs now. Let’s just ignore all that. But sure, I’m neoliberal.
Politics is about changing exactly those circumstances. Nothing is eternal. If Germany really wants to, Germany can build nuclear within a decade (I mean Germany has previously done far more extreme things in less time, like energiewende, or inventing nuclear reactors while fighting a total war). It’s of course a big economic risk because of the possible high alternative cost. That’s why the government should do it. You have to compare that with the risk of not having a fossil free alternative to gas and coal within 15 years. Actually, the risk is not that great because you will get fossil free energy either way.
You sure write like a neoliberal. Maybe you’re just not aware of that. Not seeing politics as a viable tool is maybe the most neoliberal thing one can do. And it’s very damaging to society in all western countries right now. Unless you weren’t ironic…
Germany is already changing circumstances - towards truly renewable energy. Nuclear energy only has support from politicians that change their views like flags in the wind. Nuclear energy in Germany is dead. Current attempts to revive it are done to detract from getting the transition to renewable energy done. You can claim otherwise, but as a German speaker I can tell you that only politican frauds and charlatans are asking for nuclear energy.
Aye, I agree. And given the fit-for-55 directive, that push will continue, further reducing the economic viability of nuclear. Nuclear is dead.
However, regardless of the state of nuclear in Europe, the big problem is that Germany does not produce enough energy, which spikes the energy prices in neighbouring countries. Here, electricity suddenly becomes 8 times more costly when Germany imports electricity. That is something Germany needs to address or face constant demands of building nuclear.
However, regardless of the state of nuclear in Europe, the big problem is that Germany does not produce enough energy, which spikes the energy prices in neighbouring countries.
That is only half true. Northern Germany has an energy production surplus and frequently exports energy to Belgium and the Netherlands. However Denmark has even cheaper energy production, which is why northern Germany is importing energy from there despite having an energy production surplus. The real issue lies with southern Germany, mainly Bavaria. The conservative Bavarian government has effectively strangled renewable energy production capacity with obstructive legislation over the past decade, which, coupled with their block on strengthening the energy grid, has led to southern Germany being a net importer of energy.
Misguided takes like this is exactly why I hate the CDU, the conservative party. Germany’s energy policy did NOT prove that renewables aren’t enough to fulfill the energy needs of a country. The ONLY thing the conservative German government did prove is that replacing nuclear energy and coal with cheap imported russian gas will bite you. The expansion of renewables was smothered by the conservative government at the time. That is the only take-away: Conservatives will fuck your country, if it means they don’t have to make harder choices. They will always choose the path of least resistance, no matter how moronic that path may be. Vote left or see your country be driven into ruin. That is the only valid take-away that came from Germany’s nuclear energy exit.
We both know that Germany isn’t even close going fossil free with or without nuclear.
And as long as the current EU situation benefits Germany, things probably will stay the same. But fit for 55 plus a reformed energy market could lead to quite high German inflation which will boost the populist parties even more. And when they have the majority, if it doesn’t mean more Russian gas, then it probably mean nuclear. And if they don’t get a majority, there is at least no longer a strong Russian actor which can plant anti-nuclear disinformation among the population. At least not as easy as they could before.
Anyway, public opinion can change rather quickly. The anti-nuclear movement is mainly a boomer movement and they are getting old. Prepare for change.
If the anti-nuclear movement will die out with boomers getting old, surely you can explain why in this statistic, younger people are actually preferring the nuclear phase-out whereas the older generations were largely opposing it?
The neoliberal has spoken. You know that politics can change circumstances?
Yeah sure, let’s listen to that totally real AI lady and build new nuclear reactors. Just ignore that a sizable portion of the German people is still against nuclear energy. Just ignore that it costs more than building up renewable energy. Just ignore that even the energy companies don’t want to start building new nuclear reactors based on how risky that endeavour is. Just ignore that Germany still has no long term storage for nuclear waste. Just ignore the 15-year construction time that would do nothing to help our energy needs now. Let’s just ignore all that. But sure, I’m neoliberal.
Politics is about changing exactly those circumstances. Nothing is eternal. If Germany really wants to, Germany can build nuclear within a decade (I mean Germany has previously done far more extreme things in less time, like energiewende, or inventing nuclear reactors while fighting a total war). It’s of course a big economic risk because of the possible high alternative cost. That’s why the government should do it. You have to compare that with the risk of not having a fossil free alternative to gas and coal within 15 years. Actually, the risk is not that great because you will get fossil free energy either way.
You sure write like a neoliberal. Maybe you’re just not aware of that. Not seeing politics as a viable tool is maybe the most neoliberal thing one can do. And it’s very damaging to society in all western countries right now. Unless you weren’t ironic…
Germany is already changing circumstances - towards truly renewable energy. Nuclear energy only has support from politicians that change their views like flags in the wind. Nuclear energy in Germany is dead. Current attempts to revive it are done to detract from getting the transition to renewable energy done. You can claim otherwise, but as a German speaker I can tell you that only politican frauds and charlatans are asking for nuclear energy.
Aye, I agree. And given the fit-for-55 directive, that push will continue, further reducing the economic viability of nuclear. Nuclear is dead.
However, regardless of the state of nuclear in Europe, the big problem is that Germany does not produce enough energy, which spikes the energy prices in neighbouring countries. Here, electricity suddenly becomes 8 times more costly when Germany imports electricity. That is something Germany needs to address or face constant demands of building nuclear.
That is only half true. Northern Germany has an energy production surplus and frequently exports energy to Belgium and the Netherlands. However Denmark has even cheaper energy production, which is why northern Germany is importing energy from there despite having an energy production surplus. The real issue lies with southern Germany, mainly Bavaria. The conservative Bavarian government has effectively strangled renewable energy production capacity with obstructive legislation over the past decade, which, coupled with their block on strengthening the energy grid, has led to southern Germany being a net importer of energy.
Germany burns coal and imports electricity rather than use nuclear.
Renewables are great but they aren’t enough. Germany has proved this. Nuclear fills the gaps that renewables can’t. Both should be options.
But Germany decided “nuclear is bad” so while that won’t change it doesn’t change the fact that it was a bad idea.
Misguided takes like this is exactly why I hate the CDU, the conservative party. Germany’s energy policy did NOT prove that renewables aren’t enough to fulfill the energy needs of a country. The ONLY thing the conservative German government did prove is that replacing nuclear energy and coal with cheap imported russian gas will bite you. The expansion of renewables was smothered by the conservative government at the time. That is the only take-away: Conservatives will fuck your country, if it means they don’t have to make harder choices. They will always choose the path of least resistance, no matter how moronic that path may be. Vote left or see your country be driven into ruin. That is the only valid take-away that came from Germany’s nuclear energy exit.
We both know that Germany isn’t even close going fossil free with or without nuclear.
And as long as the current EU situation benefits Germany, things probably will stay the same. But fit for 55 plus a reformed energy market could lead to quite high German inflation which will boost the populist parties even more. And when they have the majority, if it doesn’t mean more Russian gas, then it probably mean nuclear. And if they don’t get a majority, there is at least no longer a strong Russian actor which can plant anti-nuclear disinformation among the population. At least not as easy as they could before.
Anyway, public opinion can change rather quickly. The anti-nuclear movement is mainly a boomer movement and they are getting old. Prepare for change.
If the anti-nuclear movement will die out with boomers getting old, surely you can explain why in this statistic, younger people are actually preferring the nuclear phase-out whereas the older generations were largely opposing it?