Nuclear cooling towers demolished "Their demolition is part of the decommissioning process at the plant, near Annan in Dumfriesshire, which has dominated the skyline since 1959." Innovation failure? We do not wish to take a political position on the issue of nuclear power. However, one doesn't have to be a narrow-minded lobbyist to agree that nuclear power represents - despite all its drawbacks - a significant break-through in the field of energy generation. Its promotion has, however, over the decades become a cumbersome and often unpopular business in many western countries. Meanwhile, regardless of any advances in energy conservation, wind power and solar cell technology, the West's dependence on hydrocarbons located in politically volatile regions remains high as our energy needs continue to rise. See also: Fearing energy shortage, Thailand mulls nuclear