4 ~ Sunday, September 30, 1990 - North Shore News Nukes not the answer More power stations won’t stop Greenhouse Effect I'M SURE you *ve seen those glossy ads published in na- tional magazines by the Canadian nuclear industry, usually accompanied by a piciure of a female engineer, to make it clear, in case we'd missed the point, that atomic power is non-sexist, even liberated. (Come on, guys, how many fe- male nuclear engineers are there — really?) How shameless can your advertising get? Apart from extolling the safety record of nukes (omitting any ref- erence to the hundreds of acci- dents which have occurred}, the ads tell us that nuclear power is “*clean.”” That is, nuclear power stations produce no direct emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), and are therefore our best bet for reducing the threat of global warming. If it is true that the burning of fossil fuels is the main cause of the Greenhouse Effect, then it stands to reason that any alter- native form of energy, including nuclear, is desirable. Doesn't it? Well, no it doesn’t. It is a seductive argument, but utterly fallacious. In chapter 13 of Global Warm- ing, The Greenpeace Report, energy and environment consul- tant Dr, Bill Keepin argues that “even an infeasibly massive global nuclear power program could not reduce future emissions of carbon dioxide. “To replace coal alone,"” he calculates, ‘‘would require the construction of a new nuclear reactor every two or three days for nearly four decades."’ If we carry on with a business- as-usual attitude, while population nearly doubles and the number of automobiles skyrockets, by the year 2000 global carbon dioxide emissions are projected to reach 6.5 billion tonnes annually. If, in that short period of time, we were to build 800 new large nuclear plants and put them to AFTER HOURS 645-8989 ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER Barristers & Solicitors IMPAIRED DRIVING 300-1401 LONSDALE, NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. work, total CO2 emissions worldwide would only be reduced by 6.7 per cent. Given a continued growth curve in both population and pollution, even if we were to build 5,000 new nukes by the vear 2025, the total reduction in the amount of CO2 filling the atmosphere would amount to a piddling one to 1.6 per cent. The reason foi this insignificant level of reduction thanks to nukes is that future growth in coal, oil and natural-gas consumption would still be sufficient to keep COz2 emissions at or above today’s levels. This is a startling conclusion, but it is based on ‘*the simple fact that nuclear power today provides only a few per cent of the world’s energy supply,’’ writes Dr. * Keepin. ‘It would have to expand very dramatically to increase its share substantially. **Moreover, nuclear power is currently only practical for elec- tricity consumption. Thus, nuclear power’s scope for reducing fossil- fuel dependence in the coming de- cades is fundamentaily limited.’’ In other words, nobody’s going to want to — or be able to — buy a nice little nuclear-powered engine for their car. And it is motor vehicles that are the largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions. There are two other critical elements to the argument against pouring money into nukes. The first is the question of the FAX 986-9286 _-reeCentre. 6:30-9:00 pm Wednesday, October 3, 1990 Ron Andrews recCentre An evening to remember! Find out about the fabulous trails and parks on the North Shore. A great evening for the whoie family. gw Keynote Speaker: Dr. Roger Freeman, author and outdoorsman B Special program for children: Joey Hanlon, well- known singer and children’s entertainer w Food and drink, information booths and more! $4.00 for adults, $2.00 for children, $10.00 for families recCentre. Register by phoning 987-PLAY or in person at any& For more information call 929-7314 x oy Bob Hunter ECOLOGIC relative effectiveness of invest- ments in nuclear power compared to equal investments in energy ef- ficiency. Dr. Keepin's study notes that in the United Siates, which releases more CO2 than any other country (even though it also has the largest nuclear power grid), the cost of generating electricity from new nuciear plants is currently 13.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, assuming a capital cost of $3,000 per kilowatt. Comparatively, the cost and savings potential on electrical effi- ciency improvements — including solid-state ballasts, compact fluorescent lamps, improved refrigerators and water heaters — amounts to an average cost of two per cent kWh of electricity saved. Thus, ‘‘each dollar invested in efficiency displaces vearly seven ALUMINIUM CANOPY / SUNROOF ALL THIS PLUS. AND REAR SECURE LOCK. CARPET RUBBER BACKED DELUXE FLOOR MATS ONLY AT N.S. MAZDA 5-SPD & POWER STEERING fimes more carbon than a dollar invested in new nuclear power," Dr. Keepin concludes. This comparison may be deeply conservative, by the way. The Worldwatch Institute, using slightly different models, came up with a calculation recently that the total cost of avoiding carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants is 32 times more expensive with nuclear power than with energy efficiency. Also, since nuclear power sta- tions aren’t quite totally pollu- tion-free in terms of emissions: **For every $100 invested in new nuclear power, one metric tonne of carbon is effectively released into the atmosphere that could have been avoided, had that $100 been invested in electric efficiency instead.”’ A simple investment in compact fluorescent lighting is four to five times more cost-effective than nu- clear power in terms of abating CO2 emissions. Apart from all these economic reasons for not going the nuclear route, Dr. Keepin reminds us that there is a 70 per cent chance of another major nuctear accident in the next 5.4 years. The existence of nuclear power stations means the chances of nu- clear weapons proliferating are in- creased. And, finally, the basic waste-product storage problems have not been solved. OK. Nukes are no answer to the Greenhouse Effect dilemma. Cars are the problem but they’re not going away. What is the solution? SPECIAL EDITION B2200 CAB PLUS HEAVY DUTY REAR BED MAT TO PROTECT CARGO BAY AND ONE OF THE BEST WARRANTIES IN THE BUSINESS £3,200. PLUS P.D.t. & FREIGHT $595. ON PURCHASE LEASING AVAILABLE AND BANK FINANCING 0.A.C. Notthshores 700 Marine Lh North WF Phin A = woes NSEDC economic development officer Bonnie Pypiacz ...idea captured Victoria’s imagination. North Shore gets B.C. aid THE NORTH Shore came up a winner when it was named recent- ly as one of eight community regions throughout B.C. to receive provincial technical-resource sup- port from the Strong Com- munities program. By Michae! Becker News Reporter The Strong Communities pro- gram was initiated fast year to help communities to diversify and expand local economies. The North Shore Economic De- velopment Commission (NSEDC) applied for support in July. Said NSEDC economic development officer Bonnie Pyplacz, who met Monday with provincial officials, “What makes us different from the others who have been selected before is that most of them were See Economic Page § TAILGATE PROTECTOR "Lae Mon.-Thurs 9-9 Fri., Sat. 9-6 Sun. 12-5 987-4458