SAY NO TO A NUCLEAR AUSTRALIA

Alternative Energy Sources... Clean Coal

• First and foremost, I would have to consider the employment factor. There are a lot of people currently in the mining industry whose jobs will be affected, at least in some way, by any change in power supply that we adopt. Sure, the advent of any new technology takes jobs from anything that it supercedes. And generally there are other (sometimes completely new) jobs created by the new technologies, sometimes in quite obscure ways. And don't worry, the introduction of nuclear power would cost jobs too. Sure, we still mine uranium, but it's a vastly more dangerous occupation. Those who choose to retain their jobs as miners will be dealing with a deadly compound on a daily basis. How many of us would relish that job? There are also less uranium mine sites than coal, so miners will have less choice as to where they work and live. I also find myself wondering if uranium mining could supply the amount of jobs that coal does. If anyone knows where we can find actual figures of projected employment figures to compare with current employment figures, that would be much appreciated.
• Then, there is the fact that there is current research being carried out to combat coal related problems, including the 'clean coal' process. There are less problems (both in number and severity) than nuclear. And with the research that has already been done over the last couple of years, I have a greater faith that these solutions can be solved in the near future. Some of the research entails a process called UCC (Ultra Clean Coal). And don't forget the FutureGen project... a concept 'near zero-emissions coal-fueled power plant'. I must stress though, that this power plant is only a concept design at this point in time. But it's a step in the right direction, I guess. Again... research, research and more research.
• There's also the current power stations to consider. Current coal burning stations should be able to be refitted to accommodate the 'clean coal' process. Nuclear power would require the building of completely new power stations. What would happen to the old coal stations then? Would they be demolished?... sold?... or just forgotten? Either way... another massive waste. Once again, there is a whole lot of money there that could be used much better by funnelling it into research. Yes, more research. At the moment, that's the only way things are going to go forward. We're not going to just magically wake up one morning and have the answer. We have to go looking for it.