We sat down with Dr. Chris Keefer on Free Lunch by The Peak to discuss whether Canada should go big on nuclear power, as interest in the energy source as a reliable and clean alternative to fossil fuels grows. Here are three of the biggest takeaways from Chris:
Is nuclear power safe?
“People are freaked out about radiation, but there are all kinds of toxins and carcinogens in our environment. You don't think twice about sitting next to a campfire, a truck idling on the street, or getting cancer treatment. Tallying up the numbers is necessary. When you do, nuclear comes in above solar as the second safest source of electricity, safer than wind.”
What about the waste it produces?
“The fuel that comes out of the nuclear reactor is dangerous stuff. If you were to stand next to it, unshielded, you'd get a lethal dose in seconds. But there has not been a documented injury or death due to handling it. Once removed, the waste is usually robotically moved underwater, an amazing radiation shield. Within 40 years, 99.9% of the radioactivity is gone.”
What about wind and solar?
“If I could throw a few solar panels on my house and reliably run all my energy needs around the clock, I'd prefer that to building a nuclear power plant. But the sun doesn't always shine. The wind doesn't always blow. Germany has spent half a trillion dollars on their wind and solar energy transition over 20 years. Coal is still its number one source of electricity.”
How would we make nuclear happen?
“Your readers might be like, who is this guy? I've been called the nuclear Mormon because I advocate and lobby in Ottawa with a little backpack in a suit. But I'll be the first to recognize this will be hard as hell. You need cooperation with the private sector and government to make it all work. But in places like France and Japan, nuclear has been rapidly deployed.”
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. To listen to the full episode, you can find “Should Canada Go Big on Nuclear?” here or wherever you listen to podcasts.
