Reply #84: Wind is cheaper in some places, until you have to store the energy.

[NNadir]

Denmark buys electricity from France on windless days. (France is a huge exporter of electrical energy, almost 80% of which is nuclear.) What percentage of Europe's electricity is wind? Personally I would certainly like to see the fraction increase, but wind, under the best circumstances is a peak load option, and extremely dependent on the weather.

BTW, am I ensured against getting lung cancer from air pollution? Liability for energy is dumped on the public in all cases. If my kids develop neurological symptoms from heavy metals coal ash, I am not insured.

The contention that insurance companies determine the best energy strategy is so absurd as to be beneath contempt. Maybe they've been listening to nuclear hysterics too closely. Actually what I think the real case is is that their actuaries had very little data in the 1970's. I note that if insurance companies did insure nuclear plants it would have been an excellent business strategy. They would have been collecting premiums for decades without a single payout.

I'm sorry, BTW, about my linguistic insufficiency. To tell you the absolute truth, I seldom paid much attention to what Margaret Thatcher said. I regarded her as a fool.