An "Open Mind" Regarding the Use of Nuclear Power in Australia. (May 20, 2006)

On August 10 last year the then Minister for Education, Science and Training, Brendan Nelson, remarked, "We seem to be quite keen about digging [uranium] out of the ground and exporting it to other countries; we might reasonably consider nuclear power as an option for our future," and not surprisingly he indicated his intention to commission a scientific review of the pros and cons of a domestic nuclear power industry.

It is unlikely that Dr Nelson would have made his remarks had they not been cleared with the Prime Minister.

And in his valedictory as president to the Australian Academy of Sciences on May 4 this year Australia's Chief Scientist, Jim Peacock, told the Fellows:

        As the President [of the Academy] you have many national responsibilities, particularly in the area of communicating science based positions relevant to policy at the federal and even at the state level, and in presenting issues for public discussion. One such issue put forward by ourselves and the technical science academy recently was the discussion of the place of nuclear power in the global effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

    The government is currently considering the approach that John Zillman [President of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering] and I made to the Prime Minister. And the Prime Minister, at the time, responded positively to the suggestion that this is something that we need to look at, put the facts right and perhaps then engage in extensive discussion in the country. So the matter is still under consideration at the moment.

Now, Prime Minister Howard during his current visit to Canada said, "I want a full-blooded debate in Australia about this issue [of nuclear power] and I want all of the options on the table. I have a very open mind on the development of nuclear energy in my own country. That includes an open mind on whether or not Australia should in fact process uranium for the purposes of providing fuel for nuclear power in the future in Australia, if that becomes desirable."

It is vitally important that the Prime Minister be taken at his word and that the debate(s) be not only full blooded and not only well informed but fully informed, and that light be separated from heat.

So for example the April 20, 2006 issue of Nature contains a "News Feature" by Jim Giles, When the Price is Right:  Once touted as too cheap to meter, nuclear power has become too costly to build. But the economics may be shifting, while in a second "News Feature", Geoff Brumfiel reports on Forward Planning: The global future of nuclear power may rest in large part on local politics.

And the issue is gaining increasing coverage in the UK where the Labour Government is seriously considering reversing its policy on the construction of new nuclear facilities.

Those in favour of significantly increasing reliance on renewal sources of energy are universally opposed to the use of nuclear energy and marshal arguments which centre on the possible hazardous consequences in both the short and long term.

One exception to emphasising that line of argument is Amory Lovins, Co-CEO of the Rocky Mountain Institute.

To date he has authored or Co-authored nearly 20 books with titles such as Winning the Oil Endgame: Innovation for Profit, Jobs and Security; The Energy Controversy: Soft Path Questions and Answers; Small Is Profitable: The Hidden Economic Benefits of Making Electrical Resources the Right Size, and World Energy Strategies: Facts, Issues, and Options.

 Trained as a physicist at Harvard and Oxford Lovins,59, soon after finishing his studies, became an activist concerned with environmental issues. He is an extraordinarily articulate advocate for the use of alternative energy sources making the claim that properly exploited they are the most economical.

Recently Lovins took part in a 20-minute discussion with Stephen Sackur on the BBC's Hardtalk who introduces the discussion with, "We're told we have a choice: maximise economic growth, or pursue environmental sustainability.  Amory Lovins is a green energy advocate who says we can do both."

 

Click on Amory Lovins to see a video of the full discussion. Requires RealAudio

Note added 22 May: The Age reports that a spokesman for Education, Science and Training Minister, Julie Bishop has said, "The minister has an open mind and is optimistic about the potential for a nuclear power industry in Australia. She is working on setting up a panel of experts to put together the evidence so we can have a fully informed debate. She's very keen to see the evidence with regard to the feasibility of a nuclear power industry in this country."