Nuclear Power

We believe that Nuclear Power should be an important part of our energy strategy, but should be used very carefully and only in safe locations, especially when better options are available. We must phase out older reactors and plants, and replace them with alternatives, including newer nuclear plants with better controls and safeguards.

Some countries such as Belgium, Germany, Spain and the Philippines are phasing out nuclear power. Others are growing it. China is on a growth path and needs more power. As part of their “all of the above” energy strategy, 200 next-generation nuclear reactors are under construction there.

Even the Southern Company, after its main contractor Westinghouse declared bankruptcy, has decided to continue the construction of their new reactor at Plant Vogtle, in North Georgia. See “Southern Co. decides to press ahead with Vogtle expansion [EE News, August 30, 2017],
https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060059449

The country of Japan also shows the current need for nuclear power. Even after the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe, Japan has elected to bring many of its nuclear plants back on-line. See “Fukushima: Five years after Japan’s worst nuclear disaster,” [CNN.com, March 11, 2016]
http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/08/asia/fukushima-five-year-anniversary/index.html

“I still believe that nuclear is still superior for Japan, which is really a resource-poor country…” Takashi Kawamura, Chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Corporation, July 13, 2017

Some negative impacts of nuclear power are:

• Nuclear reactors are complex technologies, and the cost of a mistake or accident may be high.
• Nuclear waste remains dangerous for decades: Spent fuel storage, long half-life, irradiated water.
• Safety and security/potential for accidents, such as: Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Fukushima.
• Projects are very expensive, often far over budget and may be cancelled.

We appreciate the important work of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), whose mission is to promote the highest levels of safety and reliability in the operation of commercial nuclear power plants.