A former leader of Greenpeace now wants more nuclear power plants to meet the nation's energy needs. Many environmentalists are vehemently opposed to the idea. (Photo by Samara Freemark)
Environmental and energy groups are sparring over the future of nuclear
power. Samara Freemark has the story:
Transcript
Environmental and energy groups are sparring over the future of nuclear
power. Samara Freemark has the story:
Energy advocate Patrick Moore says only nuclear technology can provide
enough clean energy to make a dent in the nation’s fossil fuel use:
“Why should we build more nuclear power plants? Because that is the only
way that we’re going to be able to substantially reduce fossil fuels. It’s as
simple as that.”
Moore is a former Greenpeace leader who says pushing nuclear power is a
logical evolution of his environmental ideals.
But Mike Shriberg, Director of Environment Michigan, says nuclear power
can’t compete with other alternative power sources:
“Every dollar spent on nuclear energy is a dollar wasted when you compare
it to investing in true clean resources like energy efficiency and renewables.”
And Shriberg says energy produced by wind and solar can be cheaper than
nuclear power. But Moore says we those sources are too unreliable to fill the
nation’s energy needs.
For the Environment Report, I’m Samara Freemark.