Is the US Department of Energy Anti-German?

[NNadir]

It would seem so, at least where energy policy is concerned, since Germany replaced nuclear energy with coal, killing people and the planet.

From the US Department of Energy:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released an information guide for communities considering replacing their retired or retiring coal power plants with nuclear power plants. The guide is based on a technical study that found transitioning from a coal plant to a nuclear one would create additional higher paying jobs at the plant, create hundreds of additional jobs locally, and spur millions of dollars in increased revenues and economic activity in the host community. Importantly, it also found that, with planning and support for training, most workers at an existing coal plant should be able to transition to work at a replacement nuclear plant.

Coal-to-nuclear transitions could dramatically increase the supply of reliable, clean electricity to the grid and make progress toward the nation’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

“As we work to transition to a net-zero economy, it’s absolutely essential that we provide resources to energy communities and coal workers who have helped our nation’s energy system for decades,” said Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dr. Kathryn Huff. “This is a core promise of the Biden-Harris Administration: to deliver place-based solutions and ensure an equitable energy transition that does not leave energy communities behind.”

This information guide builds on DOE’s 2022 study that found hundreds of U.S. coal power plant sites across the country could be converted to nuclear power plant sites. DOE’s information guide offers communities a high-level look at the economic impacts, workforce transition considerations...

DOE Study Finds Replacing Coal Plants with Nuclear Plants Could Bring Hundreds More Local Jobs and Millions in Added Income and Revenue to Energy Communities

More important, to my mind, than providing jobs, as far as advancing nuclear energy is concerned - something in which the Biden administration is producing the best record of any administration in half a century - is saving human lives, but yes, building nuclear infrastructure back better will create very high tech jobs.

For full disclosure, a member of my family is sure to hold one of those jobs.

[hunter]

1. Germany's "Fossil Fuels Forever!" plan seems to be working quite well.

First you distract the "greens" with solar and wind baubles and then you promise fusion power plants by 2040, no matter how preposterous that seems.

Now all you have to do is wait for this nasty business in Ukraine to blow over so you can start importing cheap natural gas from Russia again and profit!

It seems unlikely Germany will abandon their coal industry anytime soon. Coal kept the German economy afloat when Russian gas supplies were restricted. That will not be forgotten.

It's easier to abandon coal in the U.S.A. largely because of our abundant natural gas supplies. People are generally accepting of hybrid gas / wind / solar energy systems. Alas, these will not "save the world."

Here in the U.S.A. nuclear power threatens both the coal industry and the large-scale wind and solar industry. Wind and solar power are not a threat to the natural gas industry because they are entirely dependent upon fossil fuels, especially gas, for their economic viability.