Wind turbine erected by Greenpeace activists before Belgium's Doel nuclear power plant, to protest discrimination against renewable energy.
Erecting symbolic white wind turbines in front of grey, looming
cooling towers at the Doel nuclear power plant, the Greenpeace
activists indicated the wiser choice for Belgium: cheaper, safe,
renewable wind energy.
Belgium draws 60 percent of its power from nuclear power plants.
This inherently risky and polluting nuclear industry continues to
receive enormous subsidies and preferential treatment. There is no
economic argument for this ill-conceived policy. A British
government report recently published on demand by UK Prime Minister
Tony Blair shows that nuclear energy is more expensive than wind
power.
But a welcome end could be in sight for this country's
preference for nuclear power. It will hinge on the outcome of a
historic debate in the Belgium parliament. On July 3 legislators
begin to discuss a draft law for a nuclear phase out that could
limit the operation of country's aging reactors to 40 years. This
means three of the oldest reactors would cease operations by 2015,
four more by 2025.
Greenpeace energy campaigner Jan Van de Putte said, "Members of
the Belgium parliament, about to vote on the law, have to take
their responsibility with respect to future generations and put an
end to the obstacles in the way of renewable energies."
Belgian leaders should choose the most rapid timeframe to end
the operation of the reactors, and remove barriers that hinder the
development of renewable energy such as wind. Cogeneration
(combined heat and power) and energy efficiency should also be part
of the "Positive Energy" solution for Belgium.
This shift would end the risk of nuclear accidents and the 120
tons of highly radioactive waste created yearly by Belgium's
nuclear industry. And it would oversee the eventual demise of
nuclear power as a costly and unsustainable source of electricity
generation.
Not only is wind power more cost effective than nuclear, wind
resources are also plentiful. Research shows that offshore wind
potential from the North Sea is more than double the North Sea
countries' current total electricity production.
But unfair and preferential subsidies to nuclear power prevent
the large-scale development of renewable energy in Belgium and many
other countries. Nuclear power benefits from limited liability in
case of accident, subsidies for research, and free access to the
grid. Belgian wind power generators, for example, have to pay for
access to the grid. Depending on how many of subsidies are
considered, nuclear power is up to nine times more expensive than
wind.
This preferential treatment for nuclear power creates unfair
competition within the electricity market that stalls the
development of safer, cleaner and cheaper renewable energy.
The Belgian parliament must seize this opportunity to leave the
next generation of Belgians with a safer, more environmentally
sound way to generate power.
For more information:
Wind
Force 12, a Greenpeace report world wind production
Discuss the issue of nuclear versus wind.
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