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