No matter what politicians and nuclear energy companies tell us, nuclear power won’t solve the climate crisis. The small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) being proposed have serious issues including safety, cost, and nuclear waste disposal – plus, they won’t help meet 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets because they won’t be up and running for years yet. In fact, building them will cause a lot of greenhouse gas emissions.
Nuclear power reactors, whether large or small, are a prime example of the risks outweighing any possible benefits. I would rather not risk water, soil and air contamination; I would rather not risk the health of uranium miners; I would rather not risk a major accident which will cause incalculable harm. I would also not want to provide even more fuel for nuclear weapons, there’s already too much.
We already have perfectly viable alternatives and that’s where our energy focus should be. (And don’t forget an important piece – reducing our energy use.) In addition to considering solar and wind power, read Canadian communities are tapping into greener ways to heat and cool buildings to get some more ideas.
Here are some other reading suggestions about nuclear power:
— Uranium Mining: Nuclear Power’s Dirty Secret
— When It Comes to Nuclear Power, Could Smaller Be Better?
— Smaller, cheaper reactor aims to revive nuclear industry, but design problems raise safety concerns
— Small modular nuclear reactors – a case of wishful thinking at best
Here’s to a safer healthier world!