The Globe and Mail says in its Saturday edition that oil may be the bad guy in some circles, but at least it never spawned a prehistoric sea monster that breathes radioactive fire and destroys cities. The Globe's Tim Shufelt writes that Godzilla has been a stand-in for misgivings about nuclear technology and the potential for catastrophe. After the Fukushima meltdown in Japan in 2011, several countries scaled back nuclear programs or even phased them out. Now nuclear is undergoing a mass reappraisal as part of the green energy transition. Around the world, nuclear projects are being green-lit. In October, the U.S. government signed an agreement with Westinghouse Electric, part owned by Cameco, to build up to eight reactors valued at $80-billion (U.S.) or more. Like many countries, the U.S. has an aging fleet of reactors that need to be refurbished or replaced. With energy demand on the rise, a nuclear comeback could kick off a major investment cycle in the nuclear supply chain. Nuclear proponents have long said the technology is crucial to reducing the world's dependence on fossil fuels, if we are to avoid the worst outcomes of climate change. Not necessarily like skyscraper-chewing Godzilla, but still pretty nasty.
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