The Switch To Clean Energy Has Never Been More Important.
photo credit: The G-tastic 7
Go back 30 years and you’ll see that the green movement was positively anti-nuclear. It seems odd that 30 years on a number of the very same people are placing their hopes on nuclear power to prevent global warming. It may be that we have little choice other than to go Nuclear but we have to ask the question “why aren’t we placing more emphasis on cleaner types of energy?” Some governments (Denmark is a good example) have already come a long way in utilizing cleaner and safer forms of energy including both Solar Power Systems and Wind farms. Introduction of these alternative forms of energy have been very successful so you have to ask why other countries are favoring Nuclear Power?
The old problems associated with Nuclear Power have by no means gone away. It is still a form of energy with inherent dangers and we still have no good solution to getting rid of radioactive waste! What is holding us back from moving to other forms of energy?
The common argument is that the cost of switching to renewable energy is far more costly than staying with fossil fuels. But what are the hidden costs of staying with fossil fuels or moving over to nuclear power?
It is common knowledge that our current fuel resources are running out. With the demand for energy set to increase there is only one possible outcome. More price increases! On the other hand, the alternative energy provided by the Sun, Wind and Water is free and will be available for a very long time.
Utilizing cleaner forms of energy may not be cost effective at the moment but future developments will surely lead to greater efficiency. For instance, take solar technology. As semiconductor technology moves forward in leaps and bounds, solar panels are becoming increasingly efficient. Not so long ago solar panels could only be utilized effectively in hotter climates. Today, we see them being used in many different environments. Indeed, solar technology has advanced so much people are investing in their own DIY Solar systems. If individuals think it worth their while to build and install their own solar energy systems then why can’t it be done on a wider scale.
The financial problem of sticking with fossil fuel energy resources is not just limited to supply. We will have to deal with CO2 emissions or the removal of nuclear waste material, a cost that will be with us for many years. Alternative forms of energy like solar, wind and Hydro power are all clean and pollutant free. Future generations will not have to pay for what we do now. The cost of short term thinking is a high price to pay for the future of mankind. Let’s keep nuclear power at a distance. The Sun would be just about right.
