If the looney tunes were right, I'd vote for France.
Posted on 12/20/2003 7:50:58 AM PST by aculeus
Scientists are meeting in Washington to decide where to build the world's first big nuclear fusion reactor. Nuclear fusion holds out the promise of virtually limitless pollution-free energy - but the reactor will take 10 years to build.
The multi-billion dollar project is likely to be based either in Cadarache in France or in Rokkasho-mura in Japan.
But the US is opposing the French option because of France's opposition to the invasion of Iraq.
Pros and cons
Member countries of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (Iter) project have been gathering in the US to make a final decision on the location of the project.
The Japanese site has the advantages of proximity to a port, a ground of solid bedrock and a nearby US military base.
The French site offers an existing research facility and a more moderate climate.
The experts are supposed to reach a consensus based on objective criteria, but observers say that the wider political context may play a part.
A French government envoy, Pierre Lellouche, said "very intense" talks were being held at a high-level before the meeting.
The European Union is backing France - but Canada, China, Russia, South Korea, the United States and Tokyo itself are reported to be favouring Japan.
The US, in particular, has raised objections to the French option, citing its opposition to the Iraq invasion.
"We have the structure, scientific and technical environment to ensure that this scheme can start up with competence, expertise and solid safety guarantees," French Research Minister Claudie Haignere said.
"If our site is chosen, Japan will cover the costs that are needed," said Hidekazu Tanaka, a senior official of the Japanese Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology ministry.
Self-sustaining
Iter is the boldest nuclear initiative since the Manhattan Project - the effort to build the first atom bomb, says BBC News Online's science editor David Whitehouse.
It would also be the world's largest international co-operative research and development project after the International Space Station.
Scientists say it will be the first fusion device to produce thermal energy at the level of an electricity-producing power station.
Its goal will be to produce 500 megawatts of fusion power for 500 seconds or longer during each individual fusion experiment and, in doing so, demonstrate essential technologies for a commercial reactor.
But they are all agreed that taming the power of the Sun will not be easy.
The superhot gas in which the fusion takes place is notoriously difficult to control.
The gas, termed a plasma, has to be kept hot and contained for fusion to take place. So far, no one has achieved a prolonged self-sustaining fusion event.
Advocates of fusion power point out that if they succeed, there is an almost limitless supply of power available because the deuterium atoms on which it would be based can be derived from seawater.
© BBC MMIII
I think it is hopeless.
Can you imagine the junk science enviro-Democrat boobs agreeing to such a facility?
Not in my lifetime.
Not in my lifetime.
I guess we will have to do it without their 'permission'.
To hell with the greenie/commies.
If the looney tunes were right, I'd vote for France.
The French will push their neocommunist leaders to drop the work week ffrom 35 hours to 32.5 hours with even more holiday time, at a slight increase in aggregate pay. Why would you even visit France, much less establish a facility there?
This is just a big experiment. France/Japan can have it...better yet, let them pay for it.
When fusion based power plants are economically viable the free-market will have them popping up all over.
Because Japan and France - yes, France - are the only major industrial countries that don't have a flat-Earth movement. You can do genetic engneering or nuclear development in these places without fear that someone will shoot your researchers and trash their labs. China doesn't have Luddites either, but is too new at the whole industrialization thing to be in contention so far, Perhaps it will be next on the list.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.