Campaign adopts nuclear power position

On November 30, 2007, at the regular meeting of the Campaign’s Board of Directors, the following position, taken directly from the Union of Concerned Scientists, was adopted.

“Nuclear Power and Global Warming”

1. Prudence dictates that we develop as many options to reduce global warming emissions as possible, and begin by deploying those that achieve the largest reductions most quickly and with the lowest costs and risk. Nuclear power today does not meet these criteria.

2. Nuclear power is not the silver bullet for “solving” the global warming problem. Many other technologies will be needed to address global warming even if a major expansion of nuclear power were to occur.

3. A major expansion of nuclear power in the United States is not feasible in the near term. Even under an ambitious deployment scenario, new plants could not make a substantial contribution to reducing U.S. global warming emissions for at least two decades.

4. Until long-standing problems regarding the security of nuclear plants—from accidents and acts of terrorism—are fixed, the potential of nuclear power to play a significant role in addressing global warming will be held hostage to the industry’s worst performers.

5. An expansion of nuclear power under effective regulations and an appropriate level of oversight should be considered as a longer-term option if other climate-neutral means for producing electricity prove inadequate. Nuclear energy research and development should therefore continue, with a focus on enhancing safety, security, and waste disposal.

For more information, please visit the Union of Concerned Scientists site: http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/global_warming/npp.pdf