Can the use of nuclear energy be justified?
Answer While the use of nuclear power can be justified in such applications as submarines or aircraft carriers, it cannot be justified for producing electricity, as it is the most expensive way to make electricity. The construction costs alone for new nuclear plants are so high that no investor will ever get their money back. Even without considering the costs of maintenance, waste disposal, decommissioning, and health and safety hazards, the price of new nuclear power is more expensive than any other form of power. (See “Forget Nuclear” by Amory Lovins, Imran Sheikh, and Alex Markevich, available from the Rocky Mountain Institute.) For a current example, consider the new plant under construction in Finland. It was supposed to be the flagship of a new generation of nuclear plants. It was supposed to be completed in the summer of 2009. It is fifty per cent over budget, and the end is nowhere in sight. After thousands of defects and problems, Areva, the French Company that is building th
