[cdn-nucl-l] Italy to reconsider nuclear

[Randal Leavitt <randal.leavitt@rogers.com>]

http://www.neimagazine.com/story.asp?sectionCode=132&storyCode=2026414

Italy to reconsider nuclear
25 January 2005

Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has said that his 
government would soon examine all its energy options – including a 
return to nuclear power. Italy’s four nuclear power plants were 
shutdown following a post-Chernobyl referendum.

Berlusconi was speaking at the inauguration of a new transmission line 
intended to safeguard Italy from blackouts like the one of 28 
September 2003, when a treefall in Switzerland led to almost total 
power failure across Italy.

Italy imports 17% of its electricity, mainly from France, and 
Berlusconi said that Italian industry was penalised by having to pay 
20-30% more for its power because of “poor choices made in the past.” 
He also said that despite Italy’s non-nuclear status, the country 
still shared the risk of an accident outside its borders.

The speech made headlines across Italy and prompted Corriere della 
Sera, the country’s best-selling daily newspaper, to conduct on online 
poll into public attitudes. Some 70% of respondents favoured a return 
to nuclear generation.

Hinting that the ‘nuclear option’ would be reexamined if he is 
reelected next year, Berlusconi said: “One legislature is too short to 
impose a new energy plan and find answers to the questions which weigh 
on our system like whether or not to use nuclear power.”

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Randal Leavitt        gnupg public key: bbbad04d
Registered User 267646 at http://counter.li.org/