A page of energy issues and a companion to how to promote nuclear power

Why this page

I have been called all sorts of nasty names because of my support for nuclear power.

At Quora I have been called a nuclear fanboy and a source of misinformation by those who don't like what I have said there. More recently this has hardened a bit, now I'm a misinformation monger. And even more recently still, I'm Mr Clueless, and ignorant and seem to have a misrepresented idea about advances in electricity. And people are going to think you’re just another hater on the internet if I'm not more specific about myths of fusion... a challenge that you will see I have now taken.

I guess the very first of these might be true! Nuclear fanboy... well, I am certainly a fan of nuclear power, but that's a rather rhetorical way of putting it. But I hope the second may be more of a freudian slip. Who is the source of misinformation, I wonder? See how to reveal yourself for one possible suggestion.

And I expect more personal attacks. See the green nuclear backdown. It was never going to be pretty! Both those who do change their minds and those who don't are going to feel betrayed by the other side. Get over it.

But it brings up the question, why do this? What if anything am I likely to achieve?

I am doing it for two reasons.

I believe in knowledge

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Andrewa/creed#1 for a similar statement. See also my essay on faith.

The anti nuclear power arguments are patently bogus. Honestly and strongly held beliefs, certainly. But they do not stand up to even a little homework. It's scary.

I believe in humanity

There seems no doubt that we face a severe risk if we continue to burn fossil fuel at the rate we are.

And it seems obvious that nuclear power is part of the solution. Nobody is saying it's the whole solution or the best solution. Or at least, nobody with any sense. But it's a popular greenist tactic to say, if you support nuclear power then you must oppose solar and wind. I don't. I support all three.

Nuclear power is part of the best solution. So are wind and solar. The nuke vs wind and solar argument is a straw_man.

If New York and Germany had not prematurely closed their PWRs, their emissions would have been reduced. So those who successfully lobbied for these closures have in fact contributed to CO2 emissions. See what happens when you do not go nuclear and climate change denial and the anti nuclear movement.

If Japan had not closed down their PWRs following the Fukushima disaster, then probably tens of thousands of Japanese would not have been killed by the air quality crisis that followed. Ignorance is dangerous, and some nukes are better than others.

If you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem