Of course. That makes it worse.
While i expect you have data that shows that historically environmental concerns have held back the bringing online of nuclear power plants I do not see that as the major reason now.
Historically, not exactly. Back in the 70s it was a merging of the environmental movement (who were often not anti-nuclear at all) with the anti-war movement, and with the odd radical far-right electricity privatization group (who opposed nuclear because it was public power). In Ontario for instance Energy Probe essentially had no other mission other than to make nuclear more and more expensive, and dramatically lengthen the time for nuclear plants to get on line. They are not well known now, but they were probably the most powerful environmental group in Ontario in the early 90s with enormous sway over Ontario's only Socialist government. And after success in Ontario they helped groups in other countries do the same thing.
But today, yes it is 100% the concerns of environmental groups. They created the social, legal, and political environment that is 100% the reason today. That you don't see only shows how completely effective they have been.
However, just because it is 100% environmental groups, doesn't meant that it is legitimate environmental concerns.
Nuclear power is difficult to fund due the the long design-construct and commisioning period. Economics are the main reason nuclear power is not the answer now.
Again, this is 100% because you think that the only way to build reactors is the completely absurd way they were most recently built. And again that just shows how completely effectively anti-nuclear groups have been.
Power is needed everywhere not just developed, technologically advanced, rich economies. For that reason solar and wind seem safer to further develop and promote than nuclear.
Solar and wind is not going to make a dent in the developing world because it simply doesn't work outside of fantasies. The choice will coal, other fossil fuels or nuclear.
"When the former chief minister of Bihar state visited to inaugurate the (solar) grid, villagers lined up to protest, chanting, “We want real electricity, not
fake electricity!”
By “real,” they meant power from the central grid, generated mostly using coal. By “fake,” they meant solar."
So, as I said earlier - I don't care. The world will continue to go no where on climate action until the greens value the environment and the planet more than their ideology. After 30 years there is no sign of that happening. The solution is not technological change, it's psychological change.
