Saga governor OKs restart of Genkai nuclear plant

Of course the"guv" Oks the restart, and a further slide in global corruption ranking.

Kyushu electric needs this. Kyushu needs this. A huge mismanaged solar company failed there this last week, so I think people are longing for the good old days. I don't blame them.

Watched a documentary recently that was made by a bunch of eggheads at Stanford. It was from 2008. You can see a pretty distinct trend in opinions about nuclear energy, even then. Talk of building MORE nuclear plants in the west was absolutely normal before 3.11. It was just accepted as necessary to get rid of coal use. Then right after 3.11, there was visible concern by scientists and engineers that turning away from nuclear power was going to derail the whole anti global warming effort. Now we see that in most of the world, there is tacit acceptance that NEW nuclear is probably going to be too expensive, but that OLD nuclear should not be shut off for no reason.

Clearly, Japan is out of step. 3.11 was not a signal, it was noise. Just like 9.11 in the US, it sent Japan off into a blind alley of wrongheaded measures and shortsighted fear that do not reflect rational progress. Alas Japan has even fewer choices, with worse penalties for making the wrong ones. I am not sure that Japan will right itself, but maybe people need to look on the bright side and ignore the last 6 years.

Japan has old but safe nuclear plants that will not be useful for much longer. We can use them and reduce emissions, let utilities recoup some losses, and support a transition to wider use of gas and renewable. Twenty years? And then they get decommissioned at the utility's expense, not the taxpayer's. Nobody will be building more of them in Japan. During that 20 years, accidents are very unlikely. And even more unlikely to be widely destructive. But that 20 years would be enough time to get Japan beyond coal and oil once and for all. 20 years could buy a gas or hydrogen infrastructure that uses methane hydrates. It might be enough time for solar to become so cheap that production and storage beyond capacity will be no big deal.

Or. You know. We can keep doing what we are doing. Japanese taxes will create a decommissioning super state, and clean coal will keep coal mining alive worldwide because coal will always be cheaper than hydrate. Utilities will be too poor to support solar or wind, and will end up being bought up by the Chinese as the Australian utilities are. Electricity prices will be so high that old people will freeze in winter and smother in summer. But hey, at least we can avoid radiation. Which is killing so many people these days, right?

Right?

You'd think twice naming a nuclear plant "Genkai". Thrice before restarting it.

Tragic error of judgment.

Kyushu area have many volcanoes and active faults belts.

therefore,Japanese Geophysicists,Seismologista or Volcanologists have opposed restart of nuclear plants in Japan.

other local mayors around nuclear plants have opposed restart of Genkai Nuclear plants,too.

because Problematic Evacuation plants that lack investigation cannot rescue residents.

There are plural cities where over million people live within 50 miles from Genkai Nuclear Plants.

Nuclear disaster in western Japan will cause huge contamination beyond Fukushima disaster.

in this connection,

Kyushu Electric Power had fabricated convenient public opinion.

They will not publish truth when Nuclear disaster.

The Japanese above starts out: "There was no problem with electricity supply while the reactors were off-line. It's all to do with generous state subsidies to the local areas hosting NPPs..."

Sorry Hideomi San, I didn't realize you were going to post in English too. I agree with what you have written.

sorry,

somehow, posted in Japanese.

During Nuclear plants shut down,

Power supply in Kyushu area had no problem.

but,restart of Nuclear plants give immense "Subsidy" to related town in Japan.

so,Local governor cooperate to Kyushu Electric Power,

Local media forget journalism,they are tamed.

Abe government or some Governors want Nuclear power under the excuse of "Economic Rationality" but They ignore that "Economic Rationality" had caused many pollution disease and Fukushima disaster in Japan.

Japan's self-named "World's best" Nuclear Regulation have been loosened day by day.

Strict members to safety are forced to resign from NRA,

Obligated inspection against superannuated Nuclear Plants have been omitted,

"40 years limitation" rule against superannuated Nuclear Plants is ignoed,

Restart of Nuclear Plants are appoved one after another despite safety facilities unfinished,

Safety inspection is done by power companies themselves,

Personnel of Nuclear regulation are decided by goverrnment who want Nuclear Plants,

Executives of Japan's Nuclear Regulation Agency are occupied by former Nuclear industiries and former economic-industrial ministry.

it cannnot expect political independency anymore.

Dangerous nuclear policy by Abe government who demand "self-sacrifice for the state" to general public by "patriotism education".

climate change is mere pretext for vested interests in Japan.

Japan's authorities and many governors divert their eyes from lesson of Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Local media did not mention even prediction about Genkai Nuclear disaster.

it is very comvenient to power industries and obedient Governors.

"Worst case scenario" about neighboring countries are emphasized on major media repeatedly but "worst case" about Nuclear disaster is Taboo as same as before Fukushima disaster.