The New Nuclear Push

Filed in archive Nuclear on January 9, 2007

In Europe, the EU has just declared a new program that will cut its green house gas emissions by 20% of their 1990 levels by the year 2020. This has complications in that not all member states can comply, even at this moment, with their previous 8% target for the 2008-2012 period and that some member states have energy programs built around non-renewable energy resources, particularly nuclear Energy. But in the US, Australia, and other areas, there seems to be a resurgence in interest in Nuclear Energy, with about 29 plants being built and hundreds being programmed in various developmental stages by many governments. Will this be the trend for this year and this decade? Will Nuclear Energy become the redeemer of the planet from its continuing oil addiction?

However the story will pan out, this will be controversial throughout. The Bush Administration back nuclear energy but skeptics worry about safety and economic issues. The advent of new technologies might help but until a commercially successful fourth generation plant is installed and operated, the issues against nuclear energy generation would still come out and bear the stigma.

Read more about the current nuclear energy push from this article.

Photo from Batelman.Com