| Construction of nuclear power plants declined | | | | we not need to be self-sufficient when it comes |
| following the 1986 disaster at Chernobyl. Lately, | | | | to the generation of power? Can renewable |
| there has been renewed interest in nuclear | | | | energy not begin to take a larger role in this |
| energy from national governments, the public, and | | | | supply? See GuideMeGreens green directory for |
| some notable environmentalists due to increased | | | | renewable energy companies and recycled |
| oil prices, new passively safe designs of plants, | | | | products in the UK. |
| and the low emission rate of greenhouse gas | | | | The report goes on to say that fuel costs for |
| which some governments need to meet the | | | | nuclear plants are a minor proportion of total |
| standards of the Kyoto Protocol. A few reactors | | | | generating costs, though capital costs are greater |
| are under construction, and several new types of | | | | than those for coal-fired plants. At the NIA 2006 |
| reactors are planned. | | | | launch of the Commission's position paper on the |
| As of 2006 there are 442 licensed nuclear power | | | | role of nuclear it confirmed "that nuclear is a low |
| reactors in operation in the world, operating in 31 | | | | carbon technology with an impressive safety |
| different countries. Nuclear power plants currently | | | | record in the UK" and "Nuclear could generate |
| provide about 17 percent of the world's electricity, | | | | large quantities of electricity, contribute to |
| yet how much of the world's current and future | | | | stabilising CO2 emissions and add to the diversity |
| environmental problems does Nuclear Power | | | | of the UK's energy supply." While we have an |
| contribute to? Nuclear power has both powerful | | | | impressive record of safety in the UK, Chernobyl |
| enemies and friends but does the bottom line | | | | has proved that a nuclear accident thousands of |
| come down to costs? The December 2005 World | | | | miles away can effect the UK for decades to |
| Nuclear Association report The New Economics of | | | | come. The Tsunami also caused problems at |
| Nuclear Power states that "Nuclear power is cost | | | | Nuclear Power plants around Asia as the plants |
| competitive with other forms of electricity | | | | are built near the sea due to the large amount of |
| generation, except where there is direct access | | | | water needed to cool the rectors. Greenpeace |
| to low-cost fossil fuels". The need for cheap | | | | has always fought vigorously against nuclear |
| energy can not be argued when every week | | | | power because they believe that it is an |
| price increases are announced from all the gas | | | | unacceptable risk to the environment and to |
| and electricity suppliers in the UK. The Ukraine | | | | humanity and that the only solution is to halt the |
| recently had their gas supply stopped by Russia, | | | | expansion of all nuclear power, and for the |
| how long is it before this happens to the UK? Do | | | | shutdown of existing plants. |