Japan White Paper: Short on Nuclear, Long on Renewables

And this seems to be a problem for the editorial folks at The Daily Yomiuri.  Looks like they may have answered their own question.

White Paper Failed to Embrace N-power - Daily Yomiuri - 24-Mar 08

"This year's paper merely provided an simple overview of situations concerning nuclear power both at home and abroad. The commission is supposed to be the nation's control tower on nuclear energy policy. Has the commission abandoned its vital duty to promote the role of nuclear power?

There is, as yet, no prospect of Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, which was hit by a powerful earthquake, resuming operations. It also is unknown whether or how the problem of disposal of high-level radioactive waste produced in the process of nuclear power generation will be settled."

Japan White Paper: Short on Nuclear, Long on Renewables

And this seems to be a problem for the editorial folks at The Daily Yomiuri.  Looks like they may have answered their own question.

White Paper Failed to Embrace N-power - Daily Yomiuri - 24-Mar 08

"This year's paper merely provided an simple overview of situations concerning nuclear power both at home and abroad. The commission is supposed to be the nation's control tower on nuclear energy policy. Has the commission abandoned its vital duty to promote the role of nuclear power?

There is, as yet, no prospect of Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, which was hit by a powerful earthquake, resuming operations. It also is unknown whether or how the problem of disposal of high-level radioactive waste produced in the process of nuclear power generation will be settled."

The Rebel Alliance Strikes Back

Peter Roche is the Edinburgh-based editor of the "No 2 Nuclear Power" website.  This from a much longer essay.

REBUTTAL: Peter Roche on Nuclear Power - Sunday Herald - 24 Mar 08

"Only last Wednesday, the prime minister warned us about rogue states obtaining nuclear weapons and terrorist groups unleashing 'dirty bombs'. Promoting nuclear power as a global solution to climate change is rather a schizophrenic thing to be doing days later.

Nuclear power and weapons are like Siamese twins. The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) already embodies an inherent contradiction - seeking to promote 'peaceful' nuclear power while trying to restrict the spread of nuclear weapons. Yet, since the treaty was signed, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea have all obtained nuclear weapons."

"We can't afford to wait until 2025 to see if a new reactor programme is successful, or whether it turns out to be, to paraphrase what the old Scottish Office said about Torness, a £30 billion mistake."

The Rebel Alliance Strikes Back

Peter Roche is the Edinburgh-based editor of the "No 2 Nuclear Power" website.  This from a much longer essay.

REBUTTAL: Peter Roche on Nuclear Power - Sunday Herald - 24 Mar 08

"Only last Wednesday, the prime minister warned us about rogue states obtaining nuclear weapons and terrorist groups unleashing 'dirty bombs'. Promoting nuclear power as a global solution to climate change is rather a schizophrenic thing to be doing days later.

Nuclear power and weapons are like Siamese twins. The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) already embodies an inherent contradiction - seeking to promote 'peaceful' nuclear power while trying to restrict the spread of nuclear weapons. Yet, since the treaty was signed, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea have all obtained nuclear weapons."

"We can't afford to wait until 2025 to see if a new reactor programme is successful, or whether it turns out to be, to paraphrase what the old Scottish Office said about Torness, a £30 billion mistake."

At Last, A Laugh of the Day

More fun tales at this page.

Elephant Hunt - Little Black Rabbit - No2Nuclear.org.uk

"Ian Marchant, chief executive of Scottish and Southern Energy, speaking at the Edison Electric Institute conference in March 2007, said nuclear power was the elephant in the room. Like an elephant, it costs a lot to buy; it is more trouble to look after than you had expected; it creates a lot of waste; and you don't know what to do with it when it is dead."

At Last, A Laugh of the Day

More fun tales at this page.

Elephant Hunt - Little Black Rabbit - No2Nuclear.org.uk

"Ian Marchant, chief executive of Scottish and Southern Energy, speaking at the Edison Electric Institute conference in March 2007, said nuclear power was the elephant in the room. Like an elephant, it costs a lot to buy; it is more trouble to look after than you had expected; it creates a lot of waste; and you don't know what to do with it when it is dead."

Netherlands Nixes New Nukes

Another one bites the dust.

Dutch Opt for Coal with Carbon Capture, Not Nuclear - Guardian (UK) - 19 Mar 08

"Despite a recent report from a Dutch advisory body urging the cabinet to reconsider nuclear power in 2010, Environment Minister Jacqueline Cramer said there were too many unresolved issues with the technology to make it attractive.  'Some aspects of nuclear energy are positive such as the carbon dioxide level, but the disadvantages are also enormous, such as the waste problem and the safety conditions,' Cramer said in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday.  Bowing to pressure from environmentalists and the wider public, Dutch authorities have phased out all nuclear power stations except for one, the Borssele plant, which is due to stay operational until 2033.

Cramer said the Netherlands was focusing on developing carbon capture and storage (CCS) techniques to build cleaner coal plants, along with increasing its production from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass.  CCS is a pioneering technology which involves trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial processes, such as power generation from fossil fuels, and piping them underground or offshore below the seabed."

Netherlands Nixes New Nukes

Another one bites the dust.

Dutch Opt for Coal with Carbon Capture, Not Nuclear - Guardian (UK) - 19 Mar 08

"Despite a recent report from a Dutch advisory body urging the cabinet to reconsider nuclear power in 2010, Environment Minister Jacqueline Cramer said there were too many unresolved issues with the technology to make it attractive.  'Some aspects of nuclear energy are positive such as the carbon dioxide level, but the disadvantages are also enormous, such as the waste problem and the safety conditions,' Cramer said in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday.  Bowing to pressure from environmentalists and the wider public, Dutch authorities have phased out all nuclear power stations except for one, the Borssele plant, which is due to stay operational until 2033.

Cramer said the Netherlands was focusing on developing carbon capture and storage (CCS) techniques to build cleaner coal plants, along with increasing its production from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass.  CCS is a pioneering technology which involves trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial processes, such as power generation from fossil fuels, and piping them underground or offshore below the seabed."