Originally Posted by
Standalone
... which IS "zero emissions..." for now....
But don't be a killjoy. Our entire electric grid is interconnected. I think that all of us bear some of the responsibility for nuclear power use. Transit electrification might prompt better wind and solar power development if the two are connected politically. On the other hand, it might drive demand for nukes.
I think we need to solve carbon issues first, then ramp down nukes.
Electric busses -- quieter, not smelly (on the outside, at least!). What's not to like? An ideal application for the technology.
As someone who used to work in the nuclear industry....
Solar and wind are fine, though the economic benefits are still up in the air, since many projects these days are still heavily subsidized. But the larger issue is that both wind and solar are variable, and we do need a "base load" of power production. The wind doesn't always blow, and the sun isn't always shining, especially at night.
With regards to "zero emissions" you have to factor the whole life cycle. Even solar and wind have emissions during the manufacturing process. Nuclear has emissions during manufacturing and in the process of fuel creation and refinement. Uranium has to be mined, refined, turned into fuel rods etc.
There is no perfect solution, and the answer will be a mixture of technologies for the foreseeable future.