For What It’s Worth: It’s time to end nuclear paranoia

By Cash Moore on October 21, 2021.

There has been a lot of talk in recent years about diversifying Alberta’s energy sector. These discussions have mainly focused on transitioning to solar and wind while largely excluding nuclear. This is despite the fact that nuclear power emits zero carbon emissions and can produce far more electricity more efficiently compared to solar and wind. The reality is that nuclear remains a politically touchy subject, due to prevalent misconceptions regarding its safety. These misconceptions stem from three areas; fear of catastrophic meltdowns, proliferation of nuclear weapons and concerns on nuclear waste.

The disasters that occurred in Chernobyl and Fukushima still loom large in many people’s minds when they think of nuclear power. A fear of these incidents being repeated is probably the largest source of political opposition amongst the general population to new nuclear projects.

Often lost in these fears is the fact that these reactors were designed in the 1960s with well documented negligence in the design, construction, regulatory and operating processes. Just as is true in our oil and gas sector, Alberta has some of the most stringent safety and environmental regulations in the world. New nuclear projects built in this province would be subject to the strictest of protocols to ensure that the risk of a meltdown is minimized.

There are roughly 450 nuclear reactors currently operating worldwide, including 19 in Eastern Canada. These reactors have operated for many years with no major accidents. There’s no reason we should let two isolated incidents taint the perception of an industry that operates safely the vast majority of the time.

The idea that uranium mining and processing in Canada can lead to the development of nuclear weapons is simply false. Within Canada, all uranium is rigorously tracked from the time it is mined to when it is eventually disposed of, in order to ensure it doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. In terms of uranium exports, through a partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is made sure that all Canadian uranium is used in nuclear power plants rather than weapons development.

Another gripe against nuclear energy is the perceived inability to properly store nuclear waste, due to the fact that it stays radioactive for thousands of years. The reality is that technology has solved this issue through complex multi-step processes that speed up radioactive dispersion and ensures that long-term waste is stored securely. Furthermore, the amount of waste that is produced from reactors is relatively very small and there is technology being developed to recycle it. In the nearly 70 years nuclear power has existed, there have been no recorded instances of wastes causing any significant damage to environmental or human health.

Unlike the above concerns, economic cost is a legitimate question in regards to nuclear power. Nuclear power plants are incredibly expensive to build and take years to begin operation. Nevertheless, Alberta’s wealth of human capital in the energy sector and proximity to some of the world’s largest uranium reserves leave it in a prime position to become a global leader in nuclear energy. It is paramount that we allow ourselves to consider this opportunity through an objective economic lens rather than through outdated misconceptions on its safety.

Cash Moore is a political science student at the University of Alberta from Medicine Hat. Feedback for his columns can be sent to letters@medicinehatnews.com

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