Great Energy Debate – Nuclear or Renewables?

 Rebecca Ferris came to Totnes last week to present the case for nuclear energy as part of the mix of energy sources we need to make use of in the coming decades. Colin Hines spoke for renewables, and in particular the Green New Deal – a proposal to reinvigorate the economy by pumping £60bn of investment into a “Carbon Army” that would overhaul all existing buildings to eliminate energy waste, saving up to 30% of the energy we currently generate. His suggestion was to part fund this from pension funds – investing in a real return for our future.

In a departure from the usual format, the audience was divided into four groups and invited to listen from the perspective of someone living in the future, a chief executive of industry, a present resident of Totnes, or a non-human life form living today.

The discussions which followed – fuelled by fabulous chocolate cake and tea – were creative and interesting. We heard from trees and animals that the wider field of life has lived through high levels of radiation, but humans are taking a big risk with their own safety to choose such a potentially destructive energy source such as nuclear.

Bosses from businesses saw the opportunities created by the Green New Deal, and wondered about the real costs of nuclear; they wanted clear information and direction from the government.

Totnes citizens expressed their senses of great responsibility – we have the power now to make these choices, where those who come after live with the consequences. It felt strange to be offered the choice of catastrophiccarbon emissions or risking the planet through nuclear accident or weapons proliferation when we have been exploring a different choice with neither of these possible consequences.

People of the future appreciated that nuclear might reduce the problems caused by coal fired carbon emissions, but were concerned about how safe and long lasting the disposal technologies for nuclear waste are – while the energy saving and renewables investment would clearly help them and generations who would follow.

There was a general sense of the nuclear presentation being enthusiastic about what science could do but disconnected with systems of life – and concerns over some of the crucial detail being glossed over. Feedback from all groups was rather than the usual debating structure that is often polarising and competitive they had found the evening a sociable and expansive way to explore this vital issue.