Reuters, Thu Jan 29, 2009: "EDF, GDF Suez get OK for French EPR nuclear site"
This new EPR nuclear plant is said to cost 4 billion euros, which we French citizens know it will turn to be at least 6 billion by the completion of the project.
4 billion euros, 2,000 jobs during the construction, 300 "stable" jobs after : what a waste of money, whilst Green Tech and Renewable Energies are known to create 10 to 15 times more jobs for the same amount of investment... Jobs that are local and long-term, by the way. See Navarra, for one.
The best with this sad news: A member of the French Communist Party, the mayor of the largest city next to the village which will host the new nuclear plant says the decision is a good thing for the region, as it will compensate the losses in the Automotive industry - read here (link in french).
That is typical french: most of the people here, from bottom to top, don't think further than the tip of their own nose. I wish I were born American.
post-scriptum: 4 billions euros represents 100,000 kilometers of 72-fibers aerial cables which could be deployed along Mid/Low-Voltage power lines in the country, to deliver Ultra-Broadband Everywhere to Everyone. Chose your camp, Buddy...
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Photo credit: Alfredo-9