The conversation: Is nuclear power still the answer to our energy problems?

The Guardian by Susanna Rustin | Mar. 26, 2011 (Opinion)

As we move to reduce our reliance on high-carbon energy, George Monbiot believes nuclear is the best option. No, says Caroline Lucas , renewables should be the priority. Susanna Rustin chairs the debate This week George Monbiot wrote that the Fukoshima disaster had won him over to nuclear power. Green MP Caroline Lucas believes the technology is costly and dangerous. Susanna Rustin brought them together, and heard the arguments. Caroline Lucas: There are ... Full Story »

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by Marsha Iverson - Mar. 26, 2011

Entirely too civilized and restrained a conversation a the relative financial feasibility, sustainability, potential power generation, and inherent risks of nuclear vs renewable power. Both sides seem to be basing their views on the presumption of large-scale, revenue-generating power grids, which is not necessarily a 'given' in the future.

Many years ago, wiser analysts predicted that, by the middle of this century, the "Third World" nations would "leapfrog" the "Industrial Giants" and leave is in the dust...simply because we will cling to our outmoded infrastructure and they would not be burdened by it. There is no support for renewable and sustainable energy because this is a problem the big-money interests to not want to solve until they've wrung all there is out of everything else. it isn't easy to monopolize generation when solar, wind, and biomass technologies are universally available. So, meanwhile, they'll poison the planet for profit. We're not faced with the choice only between carbon consumption and nuclear fuels. There are many ways to boil water.

This week George Monbiot wrote that the Fukoshima disaster had won him over to nuclear power. Green MP Caroline Lucas believes the technology is costly and dangerous. Susanna Rustin brought them together, and heard the arguments.

Fukoshima won him over? Really? It seems to be going so very well…is he mad?

CL: In what George has just said, and in his article, the most extraordinary omission is any reference to demand reduction, energy efficiency or conservation. I think those three things are going to play a huge role in any sustainable energy scenario, and I’m frankly quite shocked that George isn’t putting more stress on them. There is recent modelling suggesting demand could be reduced by 35% by 2050, and we know that our UK homes are so poorly insulated that £1 in every £4 spent heating our homes is wasted.

The simple truth is, we face a need for profound changes in our energy consumption and the ways we live on this small, fragile island in vast, inhospitable space.