NationStates Jolt Archive


Power Problems Need Bright Solution

Naleth
11-11-2003, 02:42
For those that haven't seen it:
The Issue
The oldest powerstation in Naleth suffered catastrophic failure last night, plunging a third of Naleth's national power supply grid into darkness. There is no debate that it needs to be replaced, but the question is with what?

The Debate
1 "The solution is clear," says environmental activist Randy Dodinas. "Wind turbines and solar power stations are the cleanest there are. We must switch power production to forms of renewable energy, that will never run out. The only minor problems are that wind farms will take up a great deal of space and of course we can't exactly rely on the weather. It isn't as though we control it. But think of how much healthier people will be without all that pollution!"
<snip>
3 "Now the way I see it is that it's either green, expensive, and sprawling; or compact, polluting and cheap. Wouldn't it be nice if we had the best of both worlds, well, we can!" claims fission technician Konrad Wong "Nuclear power is reliable, clean and although it isn't cheap, it won't break the bank. There is a risk of deadly meltdown, but this is relativly small, and the only people who could be against this are anti-nuclear protesters, but what do we care about those tree-hugging hippies?"

Option number 1 is the one I chose here, since I want a good environment, but option 3 should (in practice) be almost as good for the environment as option 1, but the last line makes it seem like it's going to hurt the environemnt, so I don't want to pick it. Anyone else think it's a bit biased against nuclear power? Or knows that it will actually help the environment (as the first line seems to suggest)...
11-11-2003, 03:39
fission is a probably break even for the environment. clean in production, but the problem of highly localized but nasty stuff.
Wolomy
11-11-2003, 04:56
You have to get rid of nuclear waste remember.
All Cat Lovers
11-11-2003, 14:37
Is it kind of a lose lose situation?
The Global Market
11-11-2003, 17:58
Wolomy, in fission reactions there is actually very little waste. The steam coming out of nuclear plants is actually water vapor.

Anyways, MOST of the situations in politics are lose-lose.
Demo-Bobylon
11-11-2003, 20:35
Nalth has 672 million people.

In 70 years, we create 150ml or so of high level nuclear waste.

You'll produce 12,000 baths full of high level nuclear waste per year, Naleth.
Qaaolchoura
11-11-2003, 21:01
Stupid option claimned that I [i]only[/.i] do wind farms. In fact I chose the option becsuse it included Solar power.

*adds to to-do list an issue or two with just solar power as an option*
Reploid Productions
12-11-2003, 00:04
Stupid option claimned that I [i]only[/.i] do wind farms. In fact I chose the option becsuse it included Solar power.

*adds to to-do list an issue or two with just solar power as an option*

Urk... that would be my fault. Stick a note to the typoes thread and it ought to get fixed ^^; Sorry 'bout that x_x

~Rep
12-11-2003, 08:11
---Post deleted by NationStates Moderators---
Rondebosch
12-11-2003, 15:59
I dismissed this one today, although I wanted to pick the first option, because, surely, to create wind farms, which "take up a great deal of space", you would have to demolish rainforest/wetland/savannah/whatever space to make room? I mean, you're not going to demolish a city block to make way, and these things need to go somewhere...

Solar panels on skyscrapers? Mandatory on all houses?
14-11-2003, 21:48
Solar panels on skyscrapers? Mandatory on all houses?That's actually not a bad idea. Give subsidies to homeowners so they can actually afford to install them, though, as they're very expensive.
[violet]
15-11-2003, 01:05
When I saw the title of this thread, I thought it was talking about our server crashes. :lol:
Rational Self Interest
15-11-2003, 01:57
I took the nuclear option on one of my puppets and nothing happened except some protests. If there is a melt-down hazard, it's at least not automatic.
Rondebosch
17-11-2003, 09:08
Solar panels on skyscrapers? Mandatory on all houses?That's actually not a bad idea. Give subsidies to homeowners so they can actually afford to install them, though, as they're very expensive.

Good idea, right back at you!

Is there a solar power issue in development? Has anyone ever done one? Would the mods amend this issue (probably not?), or should we start a new thread and collaborate on making the definitive one? Or a broader solar power, wind power, whatever power issue that's appropriate for nations that prioritise the environment? It would be nice to have an issue that I don't feel I should probably dismiss.