The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, Feb. 15, edition that Cameco chief executive officer Tim Gitzel acknowledges that as rare as major nuclear accidents have been -- three in the past 40 years -- they cast a long shadow. The Globe's Niall McGee writes that while nuclear may never become the preferred energy source for most countries, it will likely act as a stopgap for the foreseeable future to replace coal, the most polluting of traditional fossil fuels. Treva Klingbiel, president of industry publication TradeTech, says as much as people may want wind and solar to fill the void, alternative power sources have at times proved to be unreliable. For example, calm weather in Britain has reduced the efficacy of wind turbines, and dust storms in Abu Dhabi have rendered solar panels unusable. "Renewables only work when nature works with them," said Ms. Klingbiel.