Nuclear power, anyone?
Here’s an interesting AP story out of Sweden today:
“STOCKHOLM (AP) — The Swedish government agreed Thursday to scrap a three-decade ban on building new nuclear reactors, saying it needs atomic power to avoid producing more greenhouse gases.
Though Sweden is a leader on renewable energy, it’s struggling to develop alternative sources like hydropower and wind enough to replace nuclear power, which accounts for half of its electricity production.
If parliament approves scrapping the ban and a phase-out of existing reactors, Sweden would join a growing list of countries rethinking nuclear power amid concerns over global warming and the reliability of energy suppliers such as Russia. Britain, France and Poland are planning new reactors and Finland is currently building Europe’s first new atomic plant in over a decade.
The agreement was made possible after a compromise by the Center Party, a junior coalition member which has long held a skeptical stance toward nuclear power.”
My question: If liberal, socialist Sweden (where I’ve spent a few years of my life, tack s’ mycket!) can embrace nuclear power as at least a temporary way to provide clean energy until alternatives are developed, why can’t we?
A companion question would be: Why can’t we reprocess spent nuclear fuel rods the way Europe does?
