New Objections to Apple's Irish Data Center Focus on Proximity to Nuclear Power Plants

[jdiamond]

Nuclear is cheap, reliable energy that emits no CO2. Apple should be building its data centers WITH a Nuclear power plant, not running away from them. Sheesh.

"cheap"?
"Reliable"?

Seriously?

We care about CO2 emissions at the moment only because we've got a handle on much more serious problems like radioactive waste. When nuclear technology has a more mature, renewable solution, with breeder reactors that minimize spent fuel loss, then we can see how "affordable" nuclear power is per watt and how it's risk of "pollution" to an area (due to a disaster) compares with other ways to produce electricity. Right now, nuclear power seems about as economical as space based solar power - it might seem cool in a technological sense, but it doesn't actually make economic sense.

To be honest, if we cared nothing at all about safety, there are even more potent energy sources we could tap than nuclear fission... But it's no longer the 1970s, and energy is practically a solved problem at this point, largely due to wind and solar power finally becoming cheaper than coal. Which is the reason they are now becoming ubiquitous, and nuclear power stations are not.

 

[snipper]

I think you misunderstood my point of mentioning the nuke plant. It wasn't about power, it was to point out the area is already industrialized, not pristine forest.

Define 'industrialized' and 'pristine forest'? Again, compared to the US, the EU has hardly any forest left for centuries. You may interpret that as: What is left is not worth wile anyway. The green voters will interpret it the exact other way and say: We already have so little left, let's protect that.. And yes, the EU has strong environmental laws. Then again, this is about the same in all of the EU, not much different for specifically Ireland.

Many say the relationship between Ireland and the USA is stronger than the UK and the USA. To this day, many believe American money and contraband is what made the Easter Rebellion possible. From that, Americans are very well treated in Ireland and sweetheart deals are the norm.

That sounds all very romantic, and yes, we all love a good story, but the truth is that it's all about the money. Ireland is well known for it's low 12.5% corporation tax and numerous controversial tax brakes for decades.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Define 'industrialized' and 'pristine forest'? Again, compared to the US, the EU has hardly any forest left for centuries. You may interpret that as: What is left is not worth wile anyway. The green voters will interpret it the exact other way and say: We already have so little left, let's protect that.. And yes, the EU has strong environmental laws. Then again, this is about the same in all of the EU, not much different for specifically Ireland.

Check the dictionary and you'll get a plain meaning, commonly understood definition of those words and terms. No need to be semantic or get involved in parsing.

If you Google the plot of land Apple wants to build on it's a few scraggly trees, hardly a forest, at least hardly enough to fall under Irish or EU protection, and doesn't appear to be old growth, which also is typically protected.

Trees can be managed. They are an important part of the ecosystem, no one denies that. Certainly old growth and rainforests need to be protected because of there link to the environment at-large and the animals that depend on it for survival. But common trees are routinely farmed. Unused parkland reforested. The cost:benefit here of a data center vs a few trees tilts in favor of a data center based on the evidence provided about the site so far.

 

[snipper]

If you Google the plot of land Apple wants to build on it's a few scraggly trees, hardly a forest, at least hardly enough to fall under Irish or EU protection, and doesn't appear to be old growth, which also is typically protected. Trees can be managed. They are an important part of the ecosystem, no one denies that.

Rules go so much further here. In Germany, the Netherlands etc, it's is not uncommon that the building of an entire industrial complex or highway etc is postponed or refused a license in the first place, just because there is a certain type rare type of mouse or rare type of weeds spotted.

At a certain point, some local farmers in my neighborhood noticed that just about everywhere the environment inspector did his mandatory pre-license environmental research, rare types of weeds or mice showed up. Types that were never before found on the island.. Turned out that the man was quite an active environmentalist. Of course, afterwards, no one could prove he planted (pun) the evidence himself though.

 

[demodave]

Apple continues to defend its proposed data center in Galway County, Ireland, during an oral hearing brought together from an appeal by independent planning body An Bord Pleanála. This time, those against the company's site in Derrydonnell Forest argued that it is planning to build in a location that's too close to a local nuclear power plant (via Business Insider).

[snip]

Article Link: New Objections to Apple's Irish Data Center Focus on Proximity to Nuclear Power Plants

Yeah, because everyone else in Ireland wants to put *their* business right next to a nuclear power plant. *rolls eyes*