This new series will feature guest blog posts from think tank leaders around the world. This month, we’ll learn about the work and experiences of Instytut Globalizacji (The Globalization Institute) in Poland, written by the institute’s founder, Tomasz Teluk. Below, Tomasz discusses Globalization’s Institutes new project, studying nuclear energy, and the need for a plant in Poland.
Poland is the only large European Union member state without its own nuclear power plant. There are more than 400 nuclear power plants around the world, most of them,151, are located in Europe. In countries like France, Great Britain, Germany and Spain, nuclear energy is an important component of the energy mix.
Poland could have built a nuclear power plant in Zarnowiec city 20 years ago, but a group of, I used to call them ecoterrorists, blocked the project. They used the myth of the Chernobyl disaster and caused the public to fear that every nuclear power plant installed in our home country was like an atomic bomb.
Today Poland’s economy is suffering from another myth: the global warming apocalypse (sorry, I believe the term is now climate change). The European Union policy on climate change will cost Poland more than 7 trillion Polish Zloty from 2010 to 2030. This is a sum that could be used to build 10 nuclear reactor power plants of 1300 MW, double the nuclear power of Spain.
Nuclear power is one of the most safe, cheap and zero-emissions ways of obtaining electrical energy today. Nuclear energy in Poland would mean energy independence for the country and cheaper energy bills for Polish families.
This is why the Globalization Institute has started the project “The Atom for Poland”. We plan to do intensive research on the use of nuclear energy, and support the decision to build two power plants by 2030.
Energy consumption is growing and our nation has no more time to lose.
The Globalization Institute’s Diary :
Join us next Monday for the final installment of the Globalization Institute Diary. If you are interested in becoming the next Think Tank Diarist please contact Cindy Cerquitella.
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