Response to “Doctors Urge Province to Ramp-Up Renewable Energy”
June 23, 2013
Article by Dr. David Colby, Dr. Rosana Pellizzari, Gideon Forman, Toronto Star
June 21, 2013
June 23, 2013
Editor
The Toronto Star
1 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5E 1E6
Dear Editor,
Drs. David Colby and Rosana Pellizzari overlook the facts when they assert that nuclear energy emits significant greenhouse gases. (“Doctors urge province to ramp-up renewable energy,” June 21, 2013.) The facts place nuclear energy comfortably among all renewable energy sources.
According to the International Panel on Climate Change, hydro energy has the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions on a lifecycle basis at four grams of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt-hour. Wind (12 g CO2eq/kWh) and nuclear (16 g) outperform solar photovoltaic energy (46 g). All of these are vastly superior alternatives to coal (1001 g) and natural gas (469 g). Nuclear is a low-carbon fuel source and a participating member of the low-carbon fuel mix.
The Scientific American article upon which Colby and Pellizzari base their claims lacks any source for their allegation. The article’s authors do not substantiate their facts.
In contrast, we can, and have. The facts show that nuclear energy is a low GHG source, and also low-cost, reliable and safe.
Your readers, and their doctors, deserve the truth.
Yours sincerely,
Heather Kleb
President and CEO
