Interest Revives Worldwide In Nuclear Energy
Nuclear power, the long-time foe of the
environmental movement, is returning to favour in many countries where issues of
energy dependency and the rising cost of fossil fuels are driving policy
changes.
Nuclear power, the long-time foe of the environmental movement, is returning to favour in many countries where issues of energy dependency and the rising cost of fossil fuels are driving policy changes.
Fossil fuels are estimated at present to provide about 80 percent of the world’s energy, but production of gas and oil could reach its maximum in the next three decades, experts say.
In the United States, where the nuclear issue is not a hot topic of public debate, authorities are nonetheless keen to acquire a third-generation European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR), being developed jointly by French nuclear group Areva and Germany’s Siemens.
In Japan energy giant Toshiba on Tuesday said it had been named the preferred bidder for US nuclear power plant maker Westinghouse, beating out stiff competition from General Electric.
Environmentalists can be driven as much by inertia and “tradition” as our most ignorant politicians. Safety and productivity whilst utilizing nuclear power plants are design and construction questions, nothing more.
Taking the bulk of these questions out of the usual loop of lobbyists, good ol’ boys and cronyism is the hard part. Since this has been achieved in France, we should be able to do so, as well. Or have we reached new heights in incompetence?
Posted: Thu - January 26, 2006 at 07:00 AM