TYSON SLOCUM, Washington, D.C. – Letter
(Director of Public Citizen’s energy program.)
July 15. 2006 8:00AM
EXTRACT: The European Renewable Energy Council, the International Energy Agency and even Shell Oil have all conducted studies demonstrating the feasibility of moving to renewable technologies such as wind, solar, geothermal and wave/tidal power. These sources can more quickly reduce CO2 emissions and meet U.S. energy needs in the coming decades without the cost, risk and burden of nuclear power.
THE ARTICLE
In his July 9 letter (“We need more nuclear power”) Don Moskowitz correctly noted the need for new diversified energy sources to address the urgent problem of climate change and reduce our dependence on oil But his main prescription, building new nuclear power plants, is the wrong approach.
In the United States oil is used mainly as fuel for cars and trucks while nuclear power supplies electricity. In fact, only 3 percent of oil in the United States was used for electricity in 2004; thus, building more nuclear plants will do nothing to decrease our dependence on oil in the short term.
Moreover, nuclear power brings the significant risks of pollution from uranium mining, highly radioactive waste and the risks of accidents, terrorism and weapons proliferation. Slow and expensive to build, new nuclear reactors will dominate societal resources rather than diversify our options and will prove an ineffective solution to climate change.
The European Renewable Energy Council, the International Energy Agency and even Shell Oil have all conducted studies demonstrating the feasibility of moving to renewable technologies such as wind, solar, geothermal and wave/tidal power. These sources can more quickly reduce CO2 emissions and meet U.S. energy needs in the coming decades without the cost, risk and burden of nuclear power.
TYSON SLOCUM
Washington, D.C.
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