Now, scrat, as for your contention that more nuclear power plants would be the remedy to the greenhouse problem, I would like to quote from scientific findings of the authoritive German ?-ko-institute. The ?-ko Institut has carried out detailed research on how much carbon pollution is produced by the whole nuclear fuel cycle, and examines the low-impact alternatives. It's apparent that the GHG-emission of the whole nuclear energy production chain (construction, extraction, treatment, conversion, transport, and stockpiling of nuclear material) equals 35g. That's a lot -- hydropower exhausts 33g, but aeolian energy (wind-mills) only 20g.
There is more to the so-called myth of the nuclear saviors:
Quote:
Proposing to solve a global threat by expanding the use of an even deadlier technology can hardly be considered responsible environmental stewardship. WISE summarised some of the arguments against a nuclear solution to climate change in their report for WWF, 'Climate Change and Nuclear Power' (Schneider, 2000):
-investments into nuclear power projects drain badly-needed funds from energy efficiency programs, most of which have a far lower specific greenhouse gas abatement cost than nuclear energy;
-nuclear power projects have a variety of negative systemic impacts including: the need for inefficient large grid systems; the need for highly-qualified staff; and blocking innovation in the supply and demand sectors, as well as in the development of efficient small-scale plant;
-countries with nuclear power are among the highest carbon dioxide (CO2) emitters in the world because large-scale power plants tend to boost electricity consumption - and not only of nuclear origin - rather than improvements in efficiency;
-nuclear energy only produces electricity, but modern societies need a significant share of their energy in the form of heat (and cold). Under these circumstances, nuclear power loses its greenhouse gas emission advantage over natural gas-fired cogeneration plant and has significantly higher emissions than biogas cogeneration plants;
-nuclear power remains particularly dangerous and difficult to control as last year's accident at Tokaimura, Japan, has once again illustrated. The radioactive waste problem remains unsolved and nuclear proliferation is one of the greatest threats to international peace.
In conclusion, an efficient greenhouse gas abatement strategy will be based on energy efficiency and not on the use of nuclear power.
http://www.anawa.org.au/greenhouse/