Controversial plans to expand nuclear power in Sweden
The Swedish government's plans to promote the construction of new nuclear reactors with state subsidies and profit guarantees for participating companies have met with widespread criticism. Many experts, companies and authorities fear that the planned expansion of nuclear power will be too expensive and only hamper the development of renewable energies. The Swedish press is divided.
Expensive and distortive of competition
Dagens Nyheter voices criticism:
“It's easy to see what's going on: taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill because a few large companies have been guaranteed hefty profits. What's more, these companies are squeezing out competitors who could otherwise have produced the energy we will need in the future. Even today, companies are warning that they will be unable to expand due to a lack of energy. What will happen if the enormous subsidies for nuclear power mean that investments in other forms of energy dry up?”
Alternative energy sources also not cheap
Expressen is open to the plans:
“Just because building new reactors is expensive doesn't mean that doing nothing would be cheap. ... No industrialised country in the world runs solely on renewable energies. Either nuclear power (and hydroelectric power) or gas, oil or coal are part of the energy mix. The costs for an alternative energy system in which industry and private households have to organise themselves more according to how hard the wind is blowing are also high. ... What's more, energy policy has never been and never will be technology-neutral. There are already subsidies for wind power and punitive taxes for fossil fuels. Politicians must take responsibility for basic social needs [such as energy supply].”