Posted by alexandra_k on May 15, 2005, at 15:13:37
Most of our power supply is hydro-dams.
We have rivers right through the middle (lengthways) of the north and south island so we just dam it every now and then and sometimes make a bit of a lake too.But...
We do have times of year where we need to be careful about how much power we are using. We don't really have enough power, especially when the rivers are low.
But what to do about it...
Is verrrrrrrrrry controversial.At the mo. the power company wants to build some wonderful power pylons along a proposed route which involves putting up rather HUGE pylons right in the middle of peoples farms.
The farm owners are (understandably IMO) rather pissed. Just because there is no evidence that they cause harm doesn't prove that they don't. There is also the point that they are going to be an ugly eyesore.
Apparantly underground cables would be too expensive.
The worst thing about it... Is that the power plant that they are going to be connected to ISN'T EVEN IN OPERATION. Though the thought is that it will have to be if our power needs grow (as they are going to). Its a silly place to put a power plant anyways. Can't remember where it is - but coal needs to be transported there from a bit of a way away.
So the inevitable comes up:
Some american business person
Trying to convince us on the virtues of nuclear power...Hmm...
Nuclear power.
I'm not sure... I'm not sure...
But there is the worry that if we aren't nuclear free anymore then we don't really have that reason to say that nuclear weapons etc aren't allowed in our waters...I dunno.
Thoughts????????
poster:alexandra_k
thread:498110
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20050509/msgs/498110.html