New nukes
Take energy. From the day he took office, Mr Blair knew that North Sea oil was running out and that Britain’s nuclear power stations were nearing the end of their working lives. But he chose not to face the politically difficult debate about renewing our sources of nuclear energy, preferring to make ineffectual green noises about wind power. Today, we are in the crazy position where we are increasingly dependent on Russia for our fuel needs. If there were any serious military conflict in Europe, Britain could be plunged into darkness – and our economy brought to a juddering halt – at the flick of a switch thousands of miles away.
Daily Mail 2nd Jan 2008 more >>
Energy
A combination of new regulations and tougher controls on emissions which came into force yesterday will make life tougher for Britain’s power generators. The EU’s large combustion plants directive (LCPD) is designed to curb emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide, while the second phase of the EU’s emissions trading scheme puts a cap on carbon dioxide emissions. The government will soon reveal the results of its consultation on nuclear power.
Guardian 2nd Jan 2008 more >>
Unfortunately for the planet, coal is also the dirtiest of all the fossil fuels in terms of its carbon emissions per unit of energy output. So the only realistic way to have our cake and eat it is to store the carbon dioxide created under the ground where it cannot affect the climate.
Guardian 2nd Jan 2008 more >>
The UK’s biggest polluters will reap a windfall of at least £6bn from rising power prices and the soaring value of carbon under the new European carbon trading scheme that critics say fails to correct the flaws of the system it replaced.
Independent 2nd Jan 2008 more >>
Korea
Under a deal reached in February 2007, the North Korean regime of Kim Jong-il had agreed to do two things by December 31: disable its Yongbyon reactor site, and provide a full declaration of all its nuclear activities. But the year ended with work still incomplete at Yongbyon – and stony silence from Pyongyang.
BBC 1st Jan 2008 more >>
Oldbury
Outraged campaigners have hit out at proposals to delay maintenance at a blighted South Gloucestershire power station. Members of the Shut Oldbury Campaign are furious an inspection shut-down date scheduled for November will now take place after the reactor’s permanent closure at the end of 2008. The number two reactor at the ageing power station, near Thornbury, was shut down two years ago because of government concerns about erosion in its graphite core, but bosses switched it back on again in May of this year.
Western Daily Press 1st Jan 2007 more >>
