• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Business Panel Supports the Nuclear Power Option

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 18:00 CST

By Allister Heath, The Business, London

Dec. 18--Readers of The Business overwhelmingly support the construction of nuclear power stations to meet Britain's electricity needs, an exclusive poll reveals this weekend. Nearly 80 percent of readers said they supported new nuclear power stations in the first in a series of polls of 1,500 members of The Business Readers' Panel.

Compared with gas and coal plants, 70 percent said that electricity from nuclear plants would be easier to procure without having to rely on the co-operation of dubious regimes, 51.4 percent said it was better for the environment, 41.4 percent that it was more cost-effective, and 16.7 percent that it was safer to produce.

The majority of readers said the construction of nuclear power stations should be left to market forces, with only 44.6 percent calling for state subsidies.

But despite the support for nuclear energy, readers also believe there is a role for renewable energy. Only 2.2 percent of readers said renewables should have no role in meeting Britain's energy needs -- against 48.2 percent who said they should have an important role, and 33 percent who believe they should have a small role. Only 16.2 percent of readers believe renewables should become the dominant source of energy.

Many readers e-mailed to explain their support or opposition to greater use of nuclear power and renewable energy. One reader said: "China and India are industrialising at a phenomenal pace and with this comes massively increased worldwide energy usage. Nuclear seems to be the most efficient way of producing electricity". Another added: "I am especially against wind farms, which are most inefficient and a real eyesore." Another commented: "A diverse energy procurement system is desirable, but there needs to be a cornerstone. Nuclear should provide that cornerstone, with major input from (clean) gas stations."

-----

To see more of The Business, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.thebusinessonline.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, The Business, London

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: Sunday Business

More News in this Category