Tracking the Nuclear Energy Debate in the U.K.

Over at Beyond the Spin Dorothy Seed of BNFL is taking a look at the evolution of the debate over nuclear energy in the U.K.:

We were seeing headlines such as “Dawning of the new nuclear age” and “Prepare for the nuclear option”. Negative memories from the 1980s were receding into history and, for the first time in a long time, nuclear was being considered as “normal”.

This wasn’t down to advertising campaigns or marketing activities. It revolved around making the facts accessible, being responsive and open to debate. We focused on moving away from issues in isolation, took account of people’s increasing demand for information and concentrated on real, pragmatic responses.

[...]

[T]he very fact that nuclear energy has been under real consideration in the same way as any other energy option is evidence that the nuclear debate has at long last grown up. Nuclear energy is in the big picture and people have engaged in that. Whilst there may still be underlying concerns and uncertainties, the public have become more accepting of nuclear energy as one of the elements in our future energy mix. We have come a long way since the 1980s.

Indeed, we certainly have.

Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Power, Energy, Technology, Environment, Electricity, United Kingdom