Agreed it's a resource that the nuclear energy industry...

Agreed it's a resource that the nuclear energy industry responsibly manages. On the otherhand solar waste poses not only a serious risk to the environment, but also to human health; it contains cadmium and lead which are known to cause cancer, neurological and cardiovascular problems.

https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2023/09/13/australia-faces-solar-waste-crisis.html#:~:text=Solar%20waste%20poses%20not%20only,cancer%2C%20neurological%20and%20cardiovascular%20problems

I can just hear the green dream zealots saying yeah but it's not that bad.

Well no, it's an inconvenient truth that solar produces as much as 300 times more toxic waste than high-level nuclear waste.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2021/06/21/why-everything-they-said-about-solar---including-that-its-clean-and-cheap---was-wrong/

And let's not forget the environmental devastation from Lithium production for all those battery farms to store that "green" solar power.

For instance, the Thacker Pass project in Nevada is expected to produce 60,000 tons of lithium annually, consume 1.7 billion gallons of water annually, and emit 152,713 tons of carbon dioxide.

Pollution: The process can contaminate soil and air, leading to biodiversity loss and damage to ecosystem functions.

Carbon emissions: Producing lithium batteries can emit more carbon dioxide than manufacturing conventional cars. For instance, producing a 1,100-pound battery can emit over 70% more CO2 than producing a traditional car in Germany. With the global lithium market approaching £6 billion, the carbon footprint of lithium mining cannot be overlooked.

Waste: Lithium mining generates large quantities of mineral waste, which can lead to increased respiratory problems and alter the hydrological cycle.

Energy consumption: Lithium mining, particularly from hard rock sources, is energy-intensive, requiring substantial electricity for crushing, grinding, and chemical separation processes. This energy often comes from non-renewable sources, exacerbating carbon emissions and the carbon footprint of lithium production. Traditional brine and hard rock extraction methods emit up to 2.8 and 17.1 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE), respectively.

Soil and water contamination: The chemicals used in lithium extraction, such as sulfuric acid, can contaminate soil and water sources, posing risks to human health and wildlife.

Impact on local communities: Lithium mining has led to social struggles and human rights issues, particularly affecting indigenous communities. Extraction has displaced many from their ancestral lands, leading to water rights conflicts.

https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/is-lithium-mining-bad-for-the-environment

Yep, the green dream is just that!

Albo and Bowens folly is our environmental nightmare.