Images conjured by the mere mention of the term “nuclear energy” are almost always negative. From Chernobyl to Fukushima, the power source has a historically bad reputation and the stigma of catastrophe. Winston Churchill knew those that failed to learn from history were doomed to repeat it, and perhaps it is lessons learned that have so many countries once again casting a keen eye over conventional nuclear energy as a potential key player in the low-carbon future.
For the first time in more than a decade, most Japanese are in support of restarting idled nuclear facilities, according to a poll conducted by Nikkei. Rising power prices and the potential for electricity shortages in Tokyo are said to have swayed many back to being in favor of nuclear power just 10 years after the Fukushima disaster.
