WHEN I HELPED FOUND GREENPEACE in the 1970s, I was firmly
opposed to nuclear energy. But times have changed. I now realize nuclear
energy is the only non-greenhouse-gas-emitting power source that can
effectively replace fossil fuels and satisfy growing demand for energy.
Nuclear reactors generate huge amounts of hydrogen, a gas that is not
readily produced in other ways and not easily found on Earth. Using
Dr. Patrick Moore is a co-founder of Greenpeace, and chief
scientist of Greenspirit Strategies Ltd. in Vancouver.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
DEBATE RESULTS:
Will the government‘s new
car buying incentives help
the environment?
hydrogen for power—through fuel cells for automobiles, pipelines for industries and generating
stations for electricity—could in the future eliminate pollution and greenhouse gases caused by
fossil fuels. It would also help eliminate our dependence on the Middle East and its oil reserves.
YES
NO 42%
58%
Nuclear power also addresses the increasing shortage of fresh water through desalination.
A new generation of innovative small and medium-size nuclear power plants could co-generate
electricity and potable water from seawater, safely and at competitive prices.
Percentage reflects votes
received by September 11, 2007.
Nuclear energy is affordable. The average cost of producing nuclear energy in Canada is
around five cents per kilowatt-hour, comparable to coal and hydroelectricity. Because Canada
produces about one-third of the world's uranium mine output and production is expected to
increase, there is little risk of our running out of uranium.
Nuclear energy is safe. In Canada’s 45 years of using nuclear energy, no member of the
public has been harmed as a result of a radiation leak from a nuclear power plant or waste
storage facility. Today, 18 nuclear reactors quietly deliver 15. 5 per cent of Canada’s electricity,
including 54 per cent of Ontario’s power.
Spent nuclear fuel is not waste. Recycling spent fuel, which still contains 95 per cent of
its original energy, will greatly reduce the need for treatment and disposal.
Nuclear power plants are not vulnerable to terrorist attack. The 5-foot-thick reinforced
concrete containment vessel protects the contents from the outside as well as the inside. Even
if a jumbo jet crashed into a reactor and breached the containment vessel, the reactor would
not explode.
A combination of nuclear, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric energy is the most environmentally friendly way to meet the world’s increasing energy needs. Nuclear power plants can
play a key role in producing safe, clean and reliable base-load electricity. C
from experts in the field:
Morag Carter is director of the Climate Change Program at the
David Suzuki Foundation ( www.davidsuzuki.org) a Canadian non-profit that focuses on conservation education.
JUST AS SMART SHOPPERS CONSIDER COST, safety and waste when
buying household goods, we Canadians should consider these things when
shopping for energy sources.
Building nuclear reactors requires a lot of money. The last 20 reactors
built in the United States had an average cost of $5,000 per kilowatt of
capacity, while the last one built in Canada cost $4,000 per kilowatt. These prices are far greater
than those for large-scale renewable-energy plants. Wind power, for example, costs just $1,200
per kilowatt. Furthermore, solar power and wind power rely on free inexhaustible resources.
All gas reserves, oil fields, and uranium and coal mines eventually will be depleted.
Nuclear power produces a lot of waste. One study estimates that Canada has 35,000 tonnes
of highly radioactive nuclear waste, with nowhere to store it. And we need to store it safely,
because nuclear waste remains dangerous for 250,000 years. As well, mining the uranium necessary for nuclear power is extremely energy intensive, which creates considerable greenhouse
gases and air pollution.
Nuclear plants routinely emit radioactive materials, which increase the risks of cancer for
workers and people in surrounding communities. In April 1996, a reactor in Pickering, Ontario,
leaked heavy water containing radioactive tritium into Lake Ontario, contaminating drinking-water supplies. You may have heard of other serious accidents involving nuclear power, such as
Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.
The chemical processing of uranium ore into fuel for nuclear reactors leaves residues that
can lead to radon exposure in nearby communities. And nuclear power isn’t just dangerous to
humans. Discharged water from reactors heats up waterways, which can harm aquatic life.
Nuclear power creates more problems than it solves. Thankfully, it is not the only option
available to us. Wind power is becoming increasingly cheaper and has the potential to create
tremendous economic opportunities across Canada. We must demand cleaner sources of
energy and use the cleaner options that are available. C
Opinions expressed are those of the
individuals or organizations represented
and are presented to foster discussion.
Costco and The Costco Connection take
no position on any Debate topic.
