What's wrong with nuclear power?

The question of nuclear power has come up at the current COP 28 meeting. Many of those present are supporting the use of increased nuclear power and small modular nuclear power plants.

Downunder is not among those countries. Our present government appears to be implacably opposed to the idea of nuclear power. It has been that way for a long time now. We are being told it is "too costly", "unproven", "too slow" and "potentially harmful". 

It isn't those lovely "renewables" with their need for so much land on which to put so many panels and turbines - panels and turbines which cannot be recycled. "Renewables" are not "renewable" and they are not "free". Power sourced through these things is actually very expensive and not the environmentally friendly option we are told we need to believe.

I don't know much about nuclear power either but I do know people who do know about these things. Some of them have been involved in designing and building nuclear reactors over the years. They were not happy with the older style reactors but, from time to time, they have mentioned things which suggest change. There are smaller reactors being designed and built. They are much safer than the old reactors. They take up much less space and are much cheaper to run. They are proving to be a valuable asset and their "waste" is much easier to store. There is even work going on to find ways to reuse the waste and reduce it. 

Some years ago I had a long conversation with a former Labor Senator in this country. She was an intelligent woman who had read widely. She did not agree with her party's stance on nuclear power and had apparently said so in more than one meeting. What she wanted was a proper inquiry into the possibilities. Each time she suggested the idea was voted down. Nobody else even wanted to explore the possibilities. They simply went along with the idea that it was wrong to pursue it...and of course they would lose the support of that tiny Greens party on which they depended.

I have said elsewhere on this blog that more money needs to spent researching nuclear power - fusion and fission. Failing to do this is patently irresponsible. 

If we are going to insist on going along that route then we also have to cease mining uranium and not allow anyone else to have it. We won't do that of course. Is this just a tad hypocritical?