2008-04-28 12:32
CHORNOBYL ANNIVERSARY IS A REMINDER OF THE RISKS...

CHORNOBYL ANNIVERSARY IS A REMINDER OF THE RISKS OF NUCLEAR POWER AND THE NEED FOR BOTH UKRAINE AND THE UNTIED STATES TO SHIFT TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES :

For Release: April 25, 2008

Contact:
Ken Bossong (USA): 301-588-4741
Taras Lychuk (Ukraine): +38 068 569-5137

TAKOMA PARK, MD; RIVNE, UKRAINE—April 26 is the 22nd anniversary of the 1986 nuclear accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in Slavutych, Ukraine – the worst such event in the history of commercial nuclear power.

The Chornobyl accident was the result of a flawed design in a reactor operated with inadequately trained personnel and without proper regard for safety. Consequences include dozens and possibly thousands of deaths, lingering health impacts, radioactive contamination of a wide swath of land, massive property losses, and on-going clean-up costs totalling billions of dollars.

Consequently, the anniversary should serve as a reminder of the unacceptably high economic, public health, and environmental costs associated with nuclear power as both Ukraine and the United States pursue misguided policies to revive the industry.

A revival of nuclear power in Ukraine or the United States unnecesarily risks another Chornobyl-scale accident at some point in the future – a risk that is unacceptable, unnecessary, and avoidable.

In the 22 years since the Chornobyl accident, a broad array of sustainable energy technologies have emerged as far better alternatives and are now booming in the international energy market.

Since 1973, improvements in energy efficiency in the United States are now saving at least 40 quadrillion BTUs of energy each year, or 40% of the U.S.’s actual energy use. They are contributing more value to the U.S. economy and the environment than any energy source, because they have saved more energy than production has increased in nuclear or, for that matter, oil, natural gas, and coal. Government and private analyses consistently conclude that the opportunities for further efficiency gains are many and could reduce total U.S. energy use by at least 10% and possibly 50% or more.

In addition, renewable energy presently provides 10% of the nation’s domestic energy production while technologies such as wind, biofuels, and photovoltaics are among the nation’s fastest growing sources of energy supply, expanding by 30-45% per year and enjoying declining costs. Not surprisingly, about 30% of all new electrical generating capacity in the U.S. last year was renewably based.

Both energy savings realized through improved energy efficiency and new renewable energy supplies can be brought on line faster, at lower economic cost, and with far fewer environmental, safety, and national security impacts than new nuclear plants.

Like the United States, Ukraine has a great potential to meet its energy needs with investments in energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy that can be used as alternatives to nuclear energy expansion. For example, compared to the world average Ukraine presently uses 2.5 times more energy for each unit of GDP produced. Reducing energy waste and bringing energy intensity in line with the world average would reduce Ukraine’s energy use by about 60%—an amount almost equal to the country’s nuclear production plus its energy imports combined.

Moreover, although Ukraine is now getting only about 2% of its energy from renewable sources, wind, solar, biogas, hydropower and geothermal energy have been shown to be theoretically sufficient to satisfy all of the country’s energy needs. For instance, the country is blessed with some of the best biomass and wind resources in Europe as well as better geothermal, solar, and small hydropower resources than many of its neighbors. Consequently, there is no technological reason Ukraine could not match or exceed the European Union’s goal of meeting 20% of its energy needs with renewables by 2020.

As the worst mishap in the history of commercial nuclear power, the Chornobyl anniversary should serve as a continuing reminder of the inherent risks of nuclear energy and the necessity for both Ukraine and the United States to increase reliance on safer, cleaner, more affordable, and sustainable energy efficient and renewable energy technologies rather than pursue a new generation of nuclear power.