Capitulation to the nuclear lobby is a politics of despair (UK)

Fear of the people, their cars and flights is blocking creative energy policy

Polly Toynbee
Wednesday May 25, 2005
The Guardian

<snip> No, turbines are not taking over the country: only some 800 hectares are needed to reach the 10% target. No, they are not unpopular: 80% support them and 66% would like some in their area. No, the intermittent wind dropping is no problem, since the farms are spread far across the county and existing back-up is quite sufficient. (Eyesores? Britain had 90,000 windmills in the 17th century.)

But these myths are gaining ground, alongside the bigger myth that nothing but nuclear will do. However, the nuclear lobby has to contend with overwhelming public opposition. New stations would take a decade to build at £2bn each. Shortly, Nirex, the nuclear waste disposal company, will publish its 12 proposed sites for a huge new depot: just watch 12 protest groups spring up overnight and they will be a lot louder than the wind nimbys. So it's hard to see this parliament commissioning more nuclear power.

But don't underestimate the immense power of the pro-nuclearists. They will begin with the reasonable claim that nuclear is just "part of the mix", but the monumental cost of a new nuclear programme would devour all the cash - and far more - needed to develop better alternatives. Meanwhile, wind power prices are already falling to almost the same price as other energy. A British company is building a huge tidal generator plant off the coast of Portugal: today's cash announcement brings a British programme nearer, potentially cheapest of all. <snip>

It is curious that Tony Blair whirls around the world stirring up alarm about climate change yet throughout the election never had a word to say about it at home. While the Energy Savings Trust despairs of getting people to fill their cavity walls or turn off their lights, Blair prefers to talk about the vandalism done by boys in hoodies than about the lethal damage done by irresponsible home owners, big car drivers and frequent fliers. Meanwhile, it is the nuclear lobby that hopes to benefit from a very conservative despairing sense that nothing can ever change.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/columnist/story/0,9321,1491454,00.html