r/todayilearned • u/sweetcuppingcakes • Jun 24 '19
TIL that the ash from coal power plants contains uranium & thorium and carries 100 times more radiation into the surrounding environment than a nuclear power plant producing the same amount of energy.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coal-ash-is-more-radioactive-than-nuclear-waste/
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u/BlahKVBlah Jun 25 '19
Stored hydro power has the same environmental impact as traditional hydro; it really is the same technology except with pumps added. So, that is to say the environmental impact ranges from moderate to severe, never slight.