Posted on December 26, 2008 by admin

Slip back in time 30 years and you’ll see that the green movement was positively anti-nuclear. It seems strange that 30 years on some of the very same people are putting their hopes on nuclear power to stop the global warming Crisis. It could well be that we have little choice other than to go Nuclear but “why aren’t we putting more emphasis on cleaner types of energy?”

Some governments (Denmark is a case in point) have already come a long way in harnessing cleaner and safer types of energy including both wind farms and solar power systems. Introduction of these alternative forms of energy have been very successful so you have to ask why other countries are favouring Nuclear Power?

The old problems associated with Nuclear Power have by no means gone away. It is still a form of energy with inherent dangers and we still have no viable solution to getting rid of radioactive waste! What is holding us back from moving to other forms of energy?

The common argument is that the cost of switching to renewable energy is far more costly than staying with fossil fuels. But what of those unspoken costs staying with fossil fuels or moving over to nuclear power?

It is common knowledge that our fossil fuel resources are running out. With the demand for energy on the increase there is only one possible outcome. Rising energy prices! On the other hand, the energy provided by the Sun, Wind and Water is free and will be there for a very long time.

Harnessing the power of alternative forms of energy may not be cost effective at this time but future developments will surely lead to greater efficiency. For instance, take solar technology. As semiconductor technology moves forward in leaps and bounds, solar panels are becoming increasingly efficient. Not so long ago solar panels could only be used with any effectiveness in hotter climates. Today, we see them being used in many different environments. Indeed, solar technology has advanced so much people are investing in their own DIY Solar systems. If people think it worth their while to plan and build their own solar energy systems then why can’t it be done on a wider scale.

The financial considerations of sticking with fossil fuel energy resources is not just limited to supply. We will have to deal with CO2 emissions or the removal of nuclear waste material, a cost that will be with us for many years. Alternative forms of energy like Hydro, solar and wind power are all clean and pollutant free. Future generations will not have to pay for what we do now. The cost of short term thinking is a high price to pay for the future of the planet. Let’s keep nuclear power at a distance. The Sun would be just about right.