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At times like these it's useful to turn to our back pages and recall what nuclear experts were thinking about the finance, construction and operation of nuclear power plants in 2008 at a Sallan-sponsored debate at the New York City Bar Association about the Future of Nuclear Power Plants.

On October 22, 2008, the New York City Bar Association Committees on Energy and Environmental Law, the Environmental Law Institute and the Sallan Foundation hosted a debate — Considering the Cost and Benefits of Nuclear Power: Pros and Cons of New Plants.

The experts on the pro-nuclear side were Maggie Lemmerman, Energy Policy Adviser, Global Issues Group, British Embassy, Washington, DC, Caren Byrd, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley Investment Banking Division and Carey W. Fleming, Senior Counsel–Nuclear Generation, Constellation Energy Nuclear Group.

On the opposing side of the debate Robert Alvarez, Senior Scholar, Institute for Policy Studies and Dr. Edwin Lyman, Senior Staff Scientist, Global Security Program, Union of Concerned Scientists.

In light of the nuclear safety concern unfolding in Japan, it is interesting to see which of Sallan's debate participants — if any — are being sought after by the media for their expert opinion.

Mark Clayton writing for the Christian Science Monitor quotes Dr. Lyman who is also quoted by Carolyn Y. Johnson for the Boston Globe.

Robert Alvarez has been quoted in sources too numerous to mention. Two of the more interesting quotes are from TheHill.com and CNN.