Nuclear Energy Trends- Germany
Everything in life has a cost. We are constantly weighing the cost vs the benefit in everything we do… whether we think about it that way or not. Is it worth the risk of getting a speeding ticket to get there five minutes faster? What are the chances there is a police oficer on this stretch of road at this time of day? Is it worth the extra $5 to get the steak instead of the hamburger? Is it worth spending long nights at the office in order to get that promotion? Is it worth the the additional cost to get more memory (or hard drive) or should I get the cheaper model? All of life is weighing the cost vs. the benefit. So when people (or countries) consider going green they need to take into consideration how much it will cost. Yes, it would be nice to get all of our energy from green sources but how much will it cost? Are we willing to pay the price in higher electric bills? Brown-outs? Manditory usage restrictions? Reduced productivity? Grid problems? In todays article John Daly looks at the issues facing Germany as a result of its ban on nuclear energy in the wake of the Japanese nuclear disaster. Tim McMahon, editor
Germany – It’s Not Easy Being Green
Forty-one years ago on Sesame Street, Kermit the frog sang a plaintive song, “It’s not easy being green.” In a gesture of solidarity, perhaps he should fax the lyrics to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose government is suddenly discovering the costs of weaning itself off nuclear energy.
In the wake of Fukushima, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on 30 May that Germany, the world’s fourth-largest economy and Europe’s biggest, would become the first Continue reading
