Nuclear chief calls for more wind power

Auswind Media Release
Monday 20 November 2006:

The head of Australia’s own nuclear agency has called for the use of more wind power as part of a broad-ranging approach to stabilising Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.

In an interview with the Age newspaper today, the Executive Director of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Dr. Ian Smith, said he believed Australia could stabilise its carbon emissions if governments started taking action now, and that wind energy should be part of the solution.

“We need to be doing it all and we need to be innovative about things like using wind power,” said Dr. Smith.

Auswind's Chief Executive, Dominique La Fontaine, said the ANSTO chief was right when he said that solving climate change would require a mix of energy technologies.

“Our future energy supplies must come from a range of sources, so it is disappointing to see all the attention currently being focused on nuclear and “clean coal”, said Ms. La Fontaine. “Both of those options are at least 10-15 years away and their costs are far from certain. That’s before you even consider factors such as disposal and storage of radioactive waste and the associated security concerns.”

“It is widely accepted that there is no ‘magic bullet’ – no single answer to our future energy needs. Of all the options on the table, wind power is one of very few that is proven worldwide and available now, using mature technology at a reasonable cost, while using no fuel and producing no pollution.”

As with all renewable energy technologies, wind requires an appropriate investment climate to be cost competitive with polluting industries, such as coal-fired power. Australia should be taking immediate action to join the worldwide move towards this clean energy source.