[NukeNet] UK Reopens its public debate on Nuclear Power
Roger Herried
rogerh at energy-net.org
Tue Mar 27 15:05:43 EDT 2007
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668
Nuclear Power: an Action Network briefing
This page was created by the BBC.
Updated: 27 Mar 2007
By BBC Action Network team <http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/U516990>
*A fifth of the UK's energy needs are currently met by its nuclear power
stations but these are nearing the end of their lives, and by 2023 all
but one of them will have been decommissioned. Now it has to be decided
whether to replace these aging power stations with new nuclear plants. *
Nuclear power is perhaps the most contentious of all means of energy
production. An impending energy shortfall, combined with the problem of
climate change, has reignited the debate about future nuclear power in
the UK.
Blair with Sellafield in background
Is Britain's future nuclear?
Generating nuclear power produces barely any carbon dioxide and
supporters say it is the only way of meeting growing energy needs, while
keeping to targets for reducing carbon emissions. But the problem of
disposing of radioactive waste is still unsolved and this is one of the
main objections raised against nuclear power by those who oppose it.
This briefing explores some of the key arguments for and against nuclear
power and offers some practical suggestions on what you can do about the
issue.
*What is happening now?*
In 2003 the Energy White Paper
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/policy-strategy/energy-white-paper-2003/page21223.html>
described nuclear power as an unattractive option, and said that before
any new stations were built there would have to be "the fullest possible
public consultation and the publication of a further White Paper".
An energy review was launched in January 2006 and after public
consultation The Energy Challenge
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file31890.pdf>
report was published, supporting the development of new nuclear power
stations, saying they would "make a significant contribution to meeting
our energy policy goals".
Greenpeace anti-nuclear campaigners
Greenpeace oppose nuclear power
Environmental campaign group Greenpeace won a High Court case against
the government in February 2007, with the judge ruling that the
consultation exercise had been "seriously flawed". However, Tony Blair
said that the ruling "won't affect the policy at all".
Another public consultation on the future of nuclear power in the UK is
now planned. The government has said that a new consultation and white
paper will be published by early May 2007.
*Where would new power stations be built? *
In February 2007 British Energy, which owns and operates half of the
UK's existing nuclear power stations, announced that it was looking for
potential partners to work on new nuclear projects. It has suggested
that sites at Sizewell and Hinkley Point, which already house nuclear
generators, would be the most suitable for new power stations.
However, all current nuclear plants are by the sea and a report from the
Met Office published in January 2007 concluded that new stations should
be further inland <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6292973.stm>.
This is because of predicted rising sea-levels, and increased wave
heights – possible effects of climate change. It is expected that the
government will release criteria for future sites as part of the White
Paper.
*What are the arguments? *
*For new nuclear power stations:* Supporters include the nuclear
industry and some environmentalists who say that nuclear power:
*
Sellafield power station
Some environmentalists back nuclear
*Provides a clean source of energy:* Generating nuclear power
produces barely any carbon dioxide or sulphur. In an interview
with the Independent newspaper in May 2004, leading
environmentalist James Lovelock
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.jameslovelock.org/>
said an expansion of nuclear power was the only practical way of
meeting growing energy needs while reducing carbon emissions.
* *Reduces the UK's dependence on imported fuel:* As existing
nuclear power stations go out of use Britain could become reliant
on gas imports from abroad, putting the economy at risk, says
campaign group Supporters Of Nuclear Energy (SONE), in 'The
Looming Energy Crisis'
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.sone.org.uk/pdf/LoomingEnergyCrisis.pdf>.
* *Is cheaper than alternatives:* A report for the Royal Academy of
Engineering
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/publications/list/reports/Cost_of_Generating_Electricity.pdf>
found nuclear energy to cost around the same as fossil fuels and
less than renewable sources such as wind power.
* *Produces low levels of waste:* New nuclear plants could use
so-called Generation III+ reactors
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5165182.stm>, which industry
experts say would create less than a tenth of the waste produced
by current nuclear generators.
* *Could be up and running quickly:* The Nuclear Industry
Association says that stations could be operational by 2017
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.niauk.org/new-build.html>,
this allows time for the planning process as well as the licensing
and construction of new generation reactors. This would address
the potential energy gap created by the decommissioning of old
generators.
* *Is safe:* The nuclear industry has an excellent safety record
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.freedomforfission.org.uk/saf/reactorsafety.html>,
and has caused far fewer deaths than other means of energy
production, according to campaign group Freedom for Fission.
*Against new nuclear power stations:* Environmental organisations and
local residents' groups are among those who oppose atomic energy. They
say nuclear power:
* *Produces toxic waste:* No effective means has been found for
dealing with the hazardous radioactive waste
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.corwm.org.uk/content-258>
produced by nuclear power stations. A 2005 inventory
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.corwm.org.uk/pdf/Annex3.pdf>
found there were 477,860 cubic metres of waste in the UK,
including what will be created through the decommissioning of
existing power stations.
* *Is dangerous:* The possibility of accidents
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.cnduk.org/pages/campaign/npwr.html>
like those at nuclear plants in Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and
Windscale (now Sellafield) makes future nuclear power too risky,
says the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). There are also
concerns that power stations could be targeted by terrorists.
* *Is expensive:* The nuclear power industry has been subsidised by
the government and British Energy received a controversial £650m
bailout <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2396709.stm> in 2002.
A report (Mirage and Oasis: Energy choice in an age of global
warming
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/uploads/sewyo355prhbgunpscr51d2w29062005080838.pdf>)
by think tank the New Economic Foundation, found that new nuclear
power would be far more expensive than industry predictions. The
report says that construction costs have been underestimated and
that insurance and security for nuclear plants add to the expense.
Wind farm
Should we invest in alternatives?
* *Could crowd out renewables and microgeneration:* Money spent on
new nuclear power reduces investment in the development of
alternative energy sources
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/climate/solution/notnuclear.cfm>,
says environmental campaign group Greenpeace. There are also
concerns that a new generation of nuclear power stations would
mean a continued commitment to a centralised system of energy
production. Microgeneration
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,,1730598,00.html>,
a new model for energy production which uses lots of small, local
generators, is favoured by Stephen Tindale, director of Greenpeace UK.
* *Does not tackle climate change:* Doubling the UK's nuclear
capacity would only cut carbon emissions by 8% by 2035, according
to the Sustainable Development Commission's report, Nuclear power
in a low carbon economy
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/060306.html>.
Mining uranium for nuclear fuel and building nuclear generators
both create carbon, so nuclear power is not emission free
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/faqs/questions/nuclear_energy.html>,
say Friends of the Earth.
* *Is polluting:* Nuclear power stations and reprocessing plants
release radiation into the atmosphere. Though these amounts are
small compared with naturally occurring radiation, any unnecessary
exposure to radiation
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.comare.org.uk/comare_faq.htm>should
be kept to a minimum, says the Committee on Medical Aspects of
Radiation in the Environment. Groups like Cumbria Against a
Radioactive Environment
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.corecumbria.co.uk/>are
concerned about contamination of local environments and the
possible effects on health.
*What are the main parties' policies on nuclear power?*
*Labour* has backed a new generation of nuclear power stations
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5166426.stm>, with Tony Blair
saying he cannot see another way of tackling climate change and
providing energy security.
The *Conservatives* have said that future nuclear power stations should
be a "last resort" <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5152410.stm>,
but have not ruled them out.
The *Liberal Democrats* are opposed to further nuclear power stations
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/policies/Nuclear-tax-bombshell.pdf>,
saying that they would require a massive public subsidy. Instead they
propose an energy policy which focuses on efficiency, renewables and
microgeneration.
*What can I do?*
Dounray power station
A nuclear consultation will be held
The government has said that it will hold another public consultation on
the future of nuclear power, so it is a good time to get your view
heard. Once the consultation is open you can contribute through the
Department of Trade and Industry website
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/index.html>.
*Talk to interested organisations*
There are a number of groups and organisations involved in the debate:
*For:*
British Energy
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.british-energy.com/>
is the partly government owned company which runs half of the UK's
existing nuclear power stations. They are looking for private
partnerships to develop new nuclear plants. Their website includes an
interactive game
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.british-energy.com/powergame.php?pid=207>
which looks at issues around future energy supply.
Supporters of Nuclear Energy (SONE)
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.sone.org.uk/>
is a group of individuals who believe that nuclear energy is essential
for continued economic development while avoiding climate change. They
say nuclear power is safe and reliable.
Nuclear Cool
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://nuclearcool.com/>
is a group of pro-nuclear environmental campaigners. They want to see 30
new nuclear power stations built in the UK.
Freedom for Fission
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.freedomforfission.org.uk/index.html>
say that anti-nuclear arguments are irrational. The links section of the
website has a useful range of resources and organisations.
Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.ecolo.org/base/baseen.htm>
is an international organisation which supports nuclear power as an
environmentally-friendly means of producing energy.
As the trade association for the UK nuclear industry the Nuclear
Industry Association
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.niauk.org/>
represents the interests of 130 companies.
The British Nuclear Energy Society
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.bnes.com/>
is an organisation for people with an interest in nuclear power. They
aim to provide information about the issues around nuclear energy, and
support the public education activities of the nuclear industry.
The UK Atomic Energy Authority
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.ukaea.org.uk/>
is a non-departmental government body. It was founded in the 1950s when
it established the UK's nuclear industry. Now it is mostly concerned
with decommissioning and nuclear clean-up.
The World Nuclear Association
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.world-nuclear.org/>
is a global organisation which aims to promote the future use of nuclear
power around the world.
*Against:*
Friends of the Earth
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.foe.co.uk/>
oppose the development of new nuclear power stations, saying renewables
provide a cleaner, safer solution to energy demand and climate change.
Greenpeace
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/>
is campaigning against a new generation of nuclear power stations. Their
website includes a briefing on nuclear power and terrorism
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/contentlookup.cfm?CFID=3941073&CFTOKEN=58750037&ucidparam=20060113121020>.
The main aim of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.cnduk.org/>
is to oppose nuclear weapons but it also opposes nuclear energy. Its
website includes a briefing about links between nuclear power and
nuclear weapons
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.cnduk.org/pages/links.pdf>.
The No 2 Nuclear Power
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/>
website aims to provide news and information about the nuclear industry.
The site started in 2005 as a response to speculation that a new
generation of nuclear stations were in the pipeline.
No New Nukes
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.nonewnukes.org.uk/>
is a campaign run by the UK Rivers Network
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.ukrivers.net/>
which aims to protect seas and rivers from pollution. Their website
includes both pro and anti-nuclear information.
The website of anti-nuclear campaigners, Nuclear power – no thanks
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.newnuclearpowernothanks.org/>
includes a report of a public meeting the group hosted in the House of
Commons.
People signing up to the Nuclear Pledge
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.nuclearpledge.com/>
promise to resist paying for the cost of new nuclear power stations
through any extra charges in electricity bills and to vote in the
general election for a party which focuses its energy policy on renewables.
Nuclear Spin
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/actionnetwork/A20755668/ext/_auto/-/http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/Main_Page>
say they aim to monitor public relations tactics used by the nuclear
industry to convince the public that new nuclear power stations should
be built in the UK. It is a wiki site, to which users can sign up and
contribute.
*Use the Action Network nuclear power issue page*
You can join the debate, vote for an existing campaign, or start a
campaign of your own on the Action Network nuclear power issue page
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/C1824>.
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