October 10, 2014

Frequently Asked Questions – About Supporting Nuclear Energy

As pro-nuclear environmentalist we get asked a ton of questions. We’ve collected the most common questions and our answers.

How do we continue to power civilization without destroying it?

People want and need energy, but with fossil fuels destabilizing the Earth’s atmosphere, how can clean technology meet rising demand?

Street Art by STIK London Southbank — Street Art by STIK
London Southbank

Is population growth the real problem?

It’s predicted that world population will top out at around 9 billion by mid century and then gradually decline thereafter. Interestingly, the two biggest factors in reducing population, are rising living standards (which are tied closely to energy use) and urbanization.

What were the skies like when you were young?

Why not just use less energy?

It’s anticipated that global energy demand will double, or perhaps even triple, by mid century. For a bunch of good reasons outlined here, it is unrealistic to imagine that overall energy demand can be reduced within the timeframe in which we need to tackle climate change.

Could the United States produce all its energy from renewable sources by 2050?

You’ll be surprised at what is in the fine print of the studies that show the United States could produce all its energy from renewable sources by 2050.

Don’t the risks of nuclear energy far outweigh the benefits?

There’s no such thing as an entirely risk free source of energy. They all have their plusses and minuses. How risky is nuclear compared to other sources of energy?

Will nuclear simply take too long to build to have a positive impact on climate change?

France was able to almost fully decarbonize its electric grid in just 20 years. They did so by relying on nuclear for 80% of their electricity, using standardized designs and the mass production of components.

This blue bottle illustrates the volume of high level waste that would result from one person's entire lifetime of energy use, if they used nothing but nuclear power. — This blue bottle illustrates the volume of high level waste that would result from one person’s entire lifetime of energy use, if they used nothing but nuclear power.

What do we do about all the nuclear waste?

How much nuclear waste actually is there? Nuclear waste is not nearly so big of a problem as many of us have been led to believe. Volumetrically speaking there’s surprisingly little of it.

Isn’t nuclear power just too expensive?

Today’s reactors are large scale, long-term construction projects requiring very large up front capital costs. This, more than any other factor, has inhibited the further expansion of nuclear power around the world. But does that have to be the case?

Child's atomic energy kit (circa 1950's) *want* — Child’s atomic energy kit (circa 1950’s) *want*

Is nuclear power yesterday’s technology and best left in the past?

Not at all. Advances in nuclear technology have certainly been thwarted by the decision in 1994 to terminate US Government funded R&D in this field, but that has not stopped other countries and private companies from applying the fruits of recent technological revolutions to nuclear energy.

If Germany can do it, why cant we?

After 20 years of intense effort in building out its wind and solar capacity, with enormous and ultimately unsustainable government subsidies, Germany now gets about 5% of its electricity from solar and a little over 7% from wind – according to German government statistics.

What IS the world’s biggest environmental risk?

Is it radioactive contamination, GM crops, heavy metals…or something we have all come to rely too much on?

Are nuclear facilities especially vulnerable to catastrophic terrorist attack?

Ironically, the only known terrorist attack on a nuclear power plant was carried out in the 1980’s by anti-nuclear greens in France using a rocket propelled grenade purchased from the infamous terrorist Carlos the Jackal.They failed to do any damage.

World's most successful non-proliferation programme disposed of 16,000 former Soviet nuclear warheads to generate 10% of US electricity for 10 years. — World’s most successful non-proliferation programme disposed of 16,000 former Soviet nuclear warheads to generate 10% of US electricity for 10 years.

Will the expansion of nuclear power more countries have access to nuclear weapons?

The security issues related to nuclear technology are not insignificant. Are we taking proper notice?

Brian Eno, former Roxy music keyboard player and inventor of ambient music, together with Mark Lynas, author and environmental campaigner, and Robert Stone, film director, in London, 2013.

If I openly support nuclear power will I lose my friends?

Nothing about being pro-nuclear need diminish your support for wind and solar and energy efficiency. Those are all vital elements of any fully effective way forward. There are places where wind is the best option, places where solar makes sense, places that are favorable to geothermal energy or tidal energy. There are also places where nuclear makes the most sense. All of it will be needed in order to solve the climate problem. More and more people are coming to see this as the most sensible approach.