Nuclear waste storage

Eric White (Letters, 12 November) blandly asserts that "most agree that doubts over long-term storage of nuclear waste rule out nuclear power". This is not in fact the case.

A strong body of informed opinion believes that nuclear power will be our only realistic option when the oil and gas run out.

The storage problems are technically soluble. In the United States, the department of energy has decided to go ahead with a storage facility in Yucca Mountain which will hold waste safely for at least 10,000 years, although there are still not-in-my-back-yard hurdles to be overcome. There are schemes for accelerator-driven transmutation techniques under study which could reduce the long-term activity of the waste, and eliminate the need for deep depositories.

Even thousands of wind turbines will make a relatively small contribution to our energy demand, and that only on days when it is neither too calm nor too stormy.

(EMER PROF) IAN S HUGHES

Lettoch Road

Pitlochry, Perthshire