France building nuclear reactor

PARIS, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- France's ongoing construction of a nuclear reactor in Flamanville is indicative of a growing global energy trend, officials say.

A senior aide to Jean-Louis Borloo, France's minister of ecology, sustainable development and planning, said nuclear energy is becoming more popular worldwide because of rising oil costs and a growing fear about global warming, The New York Times reported Monday.

"A lot of countries realize that with the rising price of fossil fuels and energy, and the climate emergency, nuclear can be part of the solution," the unidentified aide said.

"This way, nuclear energy can bring a lot -- it's CO2-free energy," he added, referring to the fact nuclear energy does not produce carbon dioxide.

While the Flamanville site is still under construction, France already gets 77 percent of its electricity from nuclear power.

The Times said France's 58 operating reactors rank it second only to the United States in nuclear power plants.