U.K. Nuclear Update

The nuclear debate in the U.K. has produced some interesting clips I'd like to share with you.

First, our friends at Potential Energy are examining Hormesis for the first time. For those who haven't heard it before, the industry position in the U.S. on Hormesis is pretty simple: It's an interesting theory and ought to be investigated further. In the meantime, it isn't the basis for any industry radiation protection standards.

Ruth Lea, a director of the Centre for Policy Studies in the U.K. is cheering the conclusions the U.K. Energy Review came to about new nuclear build.

A professor at the University of Southampton is questioning the origin of opposition to expanded nuclear build.

The U.K. Polling Report has discovered the gender gap in support for nuclear power.

A long-time anti-nuclear group is claiming a recent surge in membership in the wake of the latest U.K. Energy Review, but the report is short on specifics.

And finally, Fiona O'Malley, energy spokesman for Ireland's Progressive Democrats, is chiding many of her fellow countrymen for their reflexive anti-nuclear position in regards to the long-term energy plans of the U.K.:

I disagree with the responses of ministers Dermot Ahern and Dick Roche to the British government'’s decision on nuclear power.

Whether they choose to admit it or not, Ireland does derive benefits from the British nuclear industry. Every day, we import electricity from Britain through the interconnector, which carries electricity from Scotland.

There is no doubt that some of this electricity is generated by nuclear power, and that Ireland is dependent on that energy. If our European neighbours stopped producing energy from nuclear power, there would be an even greater demand on the limited world oil and gas supplies.

Given Ireland'’s location at the end of the supply chain, as well as our small size, we would not be much of a priority for suppliers. There is a certain hypocrisy in criticising another country for planning to build new nuclear power stations, while turning a blind eye to the fact that we ourselves import nuclear-generated energy.

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