FoE NUCLEAR FOE

27-03-2008

Government plans for Britain to become a world leader in nuclear energy have been condemned by Friends of the Earth.  They say that it’s "misleading and dangerous" to claim that new reactors would improve national security and combat climate change.

Business Secretary John Hutton said earlier this week that his ambition is to “clear a path to becoming the number one place in the world for companies to do business in new nuclear".

He added:  "I believe that the revival of nuclear power in Britain today ... has the potential to be the most significant opportunity for our energy economy since the exploitation of North Sea oil and gas."(http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7413229)

Fears about the UK’s energy security have been sparked by the realisation that all but one of of our ageing nuclear power plants will have to close within the next 15 years.

With many coal-fired power stations also due to shut because they fail to meet modern pollution standards, the pressure is on to find alternative energy sources.

Britain currently generates less than 20% of its power from nuclear, while France gets 78% from the same source.

French firm EDF has already said it wants to build four new nuclear power stations on this side of the water – but although they evidently have broad government approval FoE remains unconvinced.

West Midlands spokesman Chris Crean said:  “The Government is misleading the public about nuclear power.

“A replacement nuclear programme is not an effective solution to climate change as it would only generate between 4 and 5% of our energy needs.

“And talk of an expanded programme is really pie in the sky considering the timescales and technical realities involved.

“Nuclear energy also leaves behind a deadly toxic legacy that will remain a threat for tens of thousands of years, and this has already cost the taxpayer over £70 billion.

“Building new reactors would create even more waste and take resources away from safe and sustainable solutions to climate change such as renewable power, energy efficiency and combined heat and power.

“Urgent action is needed to cut UK emissions, but throwing more money and resources at the nuclear white elephant is a dangerous and expensive distraction.”

FoE argues that instead of becoming the nuclear Number One, Britain should seek to become a world leader in renewables, energy efficiency, combined heat and power and cleaner carbon technology.