this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2023
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It's relatively easy to get to 95% renewables. We have tons of historical weather data on wind and sun patterns. You can then calculate the extent of the lull when you won't have either one. Pad that number, then put in enough storage to cover it. Natural gas may be needed for that last 5% (it's a lot more difficult to get renewables to 100% than 95%), but that's minimal.
This is all achievable by 2030, the time when we want to drastically cut emissions. In contrast, there is no plan that gets nuclear in place by 2030. If you had all the permits signed and dirt starting to be dug today, you couldn't make that time line.
Nuclear does not help us reach these goals. It takes too long, is too expensive, and doesn't synergize with renewables well at all.