Greenpeace: Legislators should stop abetting ‘nuclear madness’ time and money better spent on renewables

Greenpeace today called on Filipino legislators to stop abetting ‘nuclear madness,’ and denounced moves by congress representatives pushing for re-commissioning of the controversial Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

According to reports, more than a hundred members of the House of Representatives are set to seek the passage of a bill to rehabilitate the BNPP. The bill, House Bill No. 4631 or “An Act Mandating the Immediate Re-Commissioning and Commercial Operation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, Appropriating Funds Therefore and for Other Purposes” was introduced by Rep. Mark Cojuangco, July last year. It is expected to be calendared when Congress resumes this week.

“Greenpeace is particularly concerned that the Bill cites nuclear power as ‘clean, cheap and reliable.’ It would be interesting to find out Cong. Cojuangco’s sources, given that worldwide, nuclear power’s safety and economic records refute all this. Nuclear power is dirty, expensive and unsafe. It will not help solve climate change, nor give us energy security, as the Bill’s Explanatory Note suggests.” said Amalie Obusan, Greenpeace Climate and Energy campaigner.

Investment in nuclear power stations is highly capital intensive and risky. Current forecast figures and construction schedules being provided by the nuclear industry to investors and governments are not supported by historical or even current experience. In India, for example, completion costs for the last 10 reactors have been on average three times over budget. The Olkiluoto 3 reactor under construction in Finland is already 50% over budget.

“Nuclear power is an expensive and dangerous distraction from the real solutions to climate change. Greenhouse gas reduction targets can only be met through using the proven alternatives of renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency. Every peso spent on nuclear power is a dollar stolen from the real solutions to climate change.” She added

Greenpeace is calling upon the Philippine government to instead opt for a renewable energy future and divert state funding for energy research from nuclear and fossil fuel energy technologies towards clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Adopt legislation to provide investors in renewable energy with stable, predictable returns. Guarantee priority access to the grid for renewable generators. Adopt strict efficiency standards for all electricity-consuming appliances.

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