Hinkley
Serious concerns have been raised about the effects of nuclear discharge on the South Wales coast if a planned new power station goes ahead. A consultation by the Environment Agency into proposals for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, Somerset, has just ended. But environmentalists and anti-nuclear campaigners say they are concerned about what potential radioactive discharges could do to South Wales, just 15 miles across the channel. They made their case as part of the public consultation on the scheme. Submissions by Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA), CND Cymru, Friends of the Earth Cymru and the Stop Hinkley Campaign have raised concerns about planned radioactive marine discharges and aerial emissions from the proposed plant. They claim that independent research has concluded that there are major data gaps concerning radioactivity concentrations along the entirety of the Bristol Channel coast.The group also maintains that there has been a failure to address issues arising from climate change and the risks of severe flooding in the area. Jill Gough, CND Cymru national secretary, said: Any discharge or accident at Hinkley Point would affect Wales as much as Somerset.
Wales Online 17th Dec 2011 more >>
NFLA Press Release 14th Dec 2011 more >>
NFLA Submission on Marine Discharges.
NFLA December 2011 more >>
NFLA Submission on Aerial Discharges.
NFLA December 2011 more >>
Eon
Cockers first big move is to launch a campaign to reset Eons relationship with customers. This includes a six-month review involving its 28,000-strong customer panel and the consumer groups Which? and Consumer Focus. It will look at simplifying tariffs, helping customers increase energy efficiency, and explaining again why bills will continue to go up. Cocker said: We have to remake that case. We have to be transparent about how much money we are investing, and how much we will continue to invest. Eon and its rivals face a £200 billion bill to replace Britains ageing fossil-fuelled plants with clean alternatives, such as wind farms and nuclear reactors. The company is one half of a German consortium that plans to spend up to £15 billion on building nuclear plants at Wylfa, on Anglesey, and at Oldbury, Gloucestershire. There was speculation that Eon and RWE, its partner, would pull the plug on the proposals when chancellor Angela Merkel announced the early closure of Germanys nuclear plants after the disaster at the Japanese plants in Fukushima. Both companies are laden with billions in debt and are holding worldwide asset sales to help balance the books. Are Britains new nuclear projects also on the chopping block? Cocker denied the suggestion, though not entirely convincingly. At this point in time, new nukes are not a victim of belt tightening, he said. Ultimately, whether to push the button on the new stations is a decision that will be taken not by him, but by Eons executives in Germany.
Sunday Times 18th Dec 2011 more >>
US
Indian Point: The Next Fukushima?.
New York Times 16th Dec 2011 more >>
Japan
Fukushima Crisis Update 13th – 15th December.
Greenpeace International 16th Dec 2011 more >>
Renewables
Solar panels used to be a fairly easy sell with the more generous feed-in payments but the cuts are likely to put many people off. “It used to take nine or 10 years for the systems to pay for themselves, and now that is increasing to around 17 or 18 years. On the old rate, you could make £1,200 a year. But with the new rate, that drops to £650 and the payments are only guaranteed for 25 years so you haven’t got many more years to make a profit on it,” says Sylvia Baron, a Which? energy expert. Rising fuel prices and lower installation costs going forward could mean that solar panels still offer a decent combined return and saving. The cost of having solar panels fitted has already fallen some way in the past 12 months, while electricity bills have continued on an upward spiral and in an industry that has had the rug pulled out from under its feet, there are bargains to be had.
Independent 18th Dec 2011 more >>
It was just the boost the US solar power industry needed. Warren Buffett, Americas most respected investor, spent nearly $3 billion in the solar sector this month. He bought a 500MW plant from First Solar, one of the former darlings of the renewable energy sector, and last week took a 49% stake in NRG Energys $1.8 billion (£1.2 billion) Agua Caliente solar project in Arizona. For an industry that has been battered by cheap Chinese competition, it was a moment of relief.
Sunday Times 18th Dec 2011 more >>
