Nuclear power coming soon to Qld perhaps...
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:33 pm
Canberra-based think tank, the Australia Institute, has identified six Queensland locations as possible nuclear power plant sites.
Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast and Bribie Island have been named in the institute's final list of 17 possible sites around Australia.
Deputy director of the left-wing institute Andrew McIntosh says the sites all met four primary criteria.
"First one was sites near the national electricity market or electricity grid," he said.
"The second was near centre of demand, the third one was near transport infrastructure and the final one was near the coast, because you need water or you need sea water for cooling purposes."
But research by the institute suggests two-thirds of Australians are opposed to having a nuclear power plant in their local area.
Their paper found 50 per cent of people are against having nuclear power plants in Australia, but opposition increases when people consider the prospect of a plant built in their neighbourhood.
Mr McIntosh says opposition is highest in middle income households and among women.
"One of the real blockages to nuclear power being an option is the extent of opposition to it," he said.
"But it's mainly because we need to solve climate change rapidly and with this amount of opposition you're just not going to get there.
"It's going to take you two decades to get anywhere near the position where you're going to be ready to establish a large scale nuclear power industry."
Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast and Bribie Island have been named in the institute's final list of 17 possible sites around Australia.
Deputy director of the left-wing institute Andrew McIntosh says the sites all met four primary criteria.
"First one was sites near the national electricity market or electricity grid," he said.
"The second was near centre of demand, the third one was near transport infrastructure and the final one was near the coast, because you need water or you need sea water for cooling purposes."
But research by the institute suggests two-thirds of Australians are opposed to having a nuclear power plant in their local area.
Their paper found 50 per cent of people are against having nuclear power plants in Australia, but opposition increases when people consider the prospect of a plant built in their neighbourhood.
Mr McIntosh says opposition is highest in middle income households and among women.
"One of the real blockages to nuclear power being an option is the extent of opposition to it," he said.
"But it's mainly because we need to solve climate change rapidly and with this amount of opposition you're just not going to get there.
"It's going to take you two decades to get anywhere near the position where you're going to be ready to establish a large scale nuclear power industry."
...let's wait the feb 2nd report 
maybe I'll put my racing can on again
