[Dean's World] Aziz P: Al Gore on nuclear power

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Posted by Aziz P:
Al Gore on nuclear power
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1187222587.shtml


   from his c[1]limate policy speech at the NYU Law School on Sep. 18,
   2006.

     Many believe that a responsible approach to sharply reducing global
     warming pollution would involve a significant increase in the use
     of nuclear power plants as a substitute for coal-fired generators.
     While I am not opposed to nuclear power and expect to see some
     modest increased use of nuclear reactors, I doubt that they will
     play a significant role in most countries as a new source of
     electricity. The main reason for my skepticism about nuclear power
     playing a much larger role in the world's energy future is not the
     problem of waste disposal or the danger of reactor operator error,
     or the vulnerability to terrorist attack. Let's assume for the
     moment that all three of these problems can be solved. That still
     leaves two serious issues that are more difficult constraints. The
     first is economics; the current generation of reactors is
     expensive, take a long time to build, and only come in one size --
     extra large. In a time of great uncertainty over energy prices,
     utilities must count on great uncertainty in electricity demand --
     and that uncertainty causes them to strongly prefer smaller
     incremental additions to their generating capacity that are each
     less expensive and quicker to build than are large 1000 megawatt
     light water reactors. Newer, more scalable and affordable reactor
     designs may eventually become available, but not soon. Secondly, if
     the world as a whole chose nuclear power as the option of choice to
     replace coal-fired generating plants, we would face a dramatic
     increase in the likelihood of nuclear weapons proliferation. During
     my 8 years in the White House, every nuclear weapons proliferation
     issue we dealt with was connected to a nuclear reactor program.
     Today, the dangerous weapons programs in both Iran and North Korea
     are linked to their civilian reactor programs. Moreover, proposals
     to separate the ownership of reactors from the ownership of the
     fuel supply process have met with stiff resistance from developing
     countries who want reactors. As a result of all these problems, I
     believe that nuclear reactors will only play a limited role.

   discuss.

References

   1. http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/9/18/154846/236