Tuesday 22 October 2013

George Monbiot on nuclear power

George Monbiot has written about nuclear power and Hinkley C today in the Guardian (22/10/2013). He restates his view that electricity generation by nuclear power is a necessary evil given the threat of man-made climate change. One the issue of its safety he points out the relatively few deaths caused by this method of power generation compared with, for example, those caused by the pollutants resulting from coal-fired power generation.

However, he ridicules the decision over the proposed Hinkley C on cost grounds, with an electricity purchase price tied to the rate of inflation for 40 years.

He also criticises the decision on the grounds that it is “outdated” technology, and that integral fast reactors and thorium reactors would have been more sensible choices. Such reactor systems have the property of running on nuclear waste and so reducing not increasing the burden caused by these materials.

Roger Oliver (22/10/2013)

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