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New Nuclear Reactors For The UK: Is This Really A Good Idea?
Dr. David Fleming, The Oil Drum: Europe
Although the United Kingdom Government has not yet announced a decision to build a new generation of nuclear reactors, this is now looking likely. On Monday 26th November, 2007, the Prime Minister seemed to be preparing the ground:
“New nuclear power stations potentially have a role to play in tackling climate change and improving energy security. Having concluded the full public consultation we will announce our final decision early in the New Year.”
Bloomberg
And he added that the planning process would be “streamlined”, which means that it will not be held up by long public enquiries. This appears to be something the Government is determined will happen quickly.
There are, however, some questions to be raised about this plan. ~The first question is, where will the uranium needed to fuel the new reactors will come from? My own research, The Lean Guide to Nuclear Energy, concludes that, as early as 2013, there will be substantial shortages of uranium worldwide.
Guest article by Dr. David Fleming. Fleming is the Founder Director of the Lean Economy Connection, and an independent writer in the fields of energy, environment, economics, society and culture. The article is based on Fleming’s recent 56-page booklet, The Lean Guide to Nuclear Energy, which expands and references the arguments presented. The booklet is available to download here: The Lean Guide to Nuclear Energy
(4 January 2008)
UK scientists take on Brown over nuclear plans
John Vidal, Guardian
Academics say safety concerns of new generation of plants not yet addressed
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A group of scientists and academics today condemns as undemocratic and possibly illegal the government’s plans to force through a new generation of nuclear power stations to meet Britain’s energy needs for the next 30 years.
They warn that questions about the risks from radiation, disposal of nuclear waste and vulnerability to a terrorist attack have not been addressed – even though the government was ordered last February to repeat a public consultation on energy supply, after its exercise was declared unlawful by a high court judge.
Today the nuclear consultation group, made up of 17 energy economists and several of the government’s independent advisers on nuclear waste, condemned the methods used in the second attempt to gather public and expert opinion.
Read the full text of the report here (pdf)
(4 January 2008)
Pressure on Brown to veto coal-fired power station
Nigel Morris, The Independent
Gordon Brown has been challenged to prove his green credentials by blocking plans to build Britain’s first coal-fired power station for 24 years.
Environmental activists condemned a decision by councillors to support an application to demolish an outdated plant in Kent and replace it with another that burns coal, widely regarded as the dirtiest fossil fuel.
The final decision on allowing the development of the proposed station at Kingsnorth, near Rochester, lies with the Government.
Greenpeace warned that approval of the £1bn scheme would make a mockery of Britain’s long-term commitment to cut carbon emissions.
(4 January 2008)
