Stichting Laka

Publication Laka-library:
Is nuclear power necessary? (1979)

Author	Amory Lovins
Date	May 1979
Classification	6.01.0.00/90 (GENERAL)
Front

This booklet examines the potential ability of nuclear power to reduce dependence 
on imported oil in an economically efficient way. It argues that

- cost-effective measures to use energy far more efficiently can stabilize or reduce
the need for energy while affluence increases;

- nuclear power is physically unable to provide a significant substitution for oil;

- even slow rates of nuclear expansion are severely constrained by their cost and
their tendency to increase inflation, unemployment, and other macroeconomic problems;

- alternative investments in efficiency improvements, transitional (mainly non-
electric) fossil-fuel technologies, and appropriate renewable sources can provide far 
greater relief from oil dependence more quickly, more easily, and at much lower cost.

These arguments make it unnecessary to consider whether nuclear power is safe and 
otherwise acceptable. Instead, we should be designing an orderly way to recycle the 
resources of the nuclear enterprise into more efficient and attractive ways to build 
a sustainable energy future.

This publication is only available at Laka on paper, not as pdf.
You can borrow the publication or request a copy. When we're available, this is possible for a small fee.