Energy efficiency
Nicky Gavron says: Just as we needed a Clean Air Act – proactive and mandatory legislation promoting urgent change – so today we need a Low Carbon Act. A number of radical suggestions are being floated that could be wrapped up in such legislation. A clear leader is the proposal for a rolling programme of low carbon zones, aimed at dramatically improving the energy efficiency of all our buildings – our public and commercial premises and especially our homes.
Independent 20th July 2006
British Energy
Potential conversion and sale of a part stake by the Nuclear Liabilities Fund. The Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, issued the following statement today: “The Chancellor stated in his Budget 2006 announcement that the Government would be prepared to consider selling part of its stake in British Energy. I confirm that the Government will actively consider a sale of part of its stake in British Energy via a capital markets transaction.”
London Stock Exchange 20th July 2006
Energy Review
The UK government has announced that its policy instrument of choice to encourage new nuclear build is a strong carbon market in Europe. If the European market is unable to deliver this, then additional UK incentives will be introduced to prop up the value of emission credits. The UK energy review has come out strongly in favour of energy efficiency measures, renewable energy and new nuclear build. However, says energy analysts Datamonitor, the targets and incentives laid out for nuclear are noticeably weaker and less substantive than for the other two technology areas.
Engineer Live 20th July 2006
Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, will play an increasing role in meeting Britain’s energy needs, says energy minister Malcolm Wicks in Labour’s latest podcast. He goes on to point out that nuclear power is also an indispensable part of the solution.
Labour Party 19th July 2006
Sizewell C
A PLANNING chief has called on the Government to ensure local views are fully taken into account if plans for a Sizewell C nuclear power station are submitted – despite proposals to “fast track” such applications. The Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) organisation warned yesterday that the Government appeared intent on denying local communities and their local authorities the right to address safety and economic issues at any inquiry by limiting these to local environment impacts. Ivan Jowers, chairman of Suffolk Coastal District Council’s development control committee – the committee which would scrutinise Sizewell C plans – said detailed proposals aimed at speeding up energy-related planning applications had not yet been published. However, the council had been heavily involved in previous applications for both nuclear and wind-power generation and had a great deal of experience.
East Anglian Daily Times 20th July 2006
Uranium
Spurned for the past two decades, uranium is now selling at record highs as it suddenly finds itself back in favour with governments around the world, which are embracing nuclear power as a key source of future energy. Languishing around $7 per lb at the start of this century, the spot price for uranium has risen more than sixfold to hit a record $45.50 per lb this week. A classic supply-demand imbalance has driven up the price: supplies are rapidly dwindling just as demand for the mineral that fuels nuclear power has returned
Telegraph 20th July 2006
FT 20th July 2006
Scotland
Letter from Green Party Member: I was delighted to read that Malcolm Chisholm, the communities minister, has come out against new nuclear power stations in Scotland (your report, 17 July). In the week where he launched an initiative to make the planning process easier for renewable energy projects, Mr Chisholm appears to be doing his best to paper over the failings of the Scottish Executive to provide clear leadership on energy issues.
Scotsman 20th July 2006
Nuclear waste
The US Energy Department has a new opening date for the long-delayed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump in Nevada: March 31, 2017. That’s 19 years late. But it’s the first concrete timeline the department has produced in some time.
Guardian website 19th July 2006
Sellafield
SELLAFIELD operator British Nuclear Group is in trouble again – this time with the Environment Agency – following a leak of radioactive water at the nuclear plant. The news comes as BNG awaits sentencing for the massive radioactive leak which closed the Thorp reprocessing plant last year. It faces an unlimited fine after admitting three charges brought by the Health and Safety Executive as a result of the Thorp leak, which went undetected for nine months. The Environment Agency has now issued an enforcement notice following a leak at one of the Sellafield storage ponds in February. Pond 4 was overfilled with cooling water and as a result, radioactive water leaked from a gap in the wall. Although water was contained within the plant the Environment Agency criticised failings by British Nuclear Group. The agency said the volume of water lost was minute, but that the incident showed a “disappointing” lack of controls at the plant. It has issued an enforcement notice, which demands action be taken to prevent a similar occurrence. Failure to comply with the notice is an offence.
Carlisle News and Star 19th July 2006
Cumbrian Times and Star 19th July 2006
Now that nuclear power is “very much back on the agenda” it is comforting to know that the existing plants are no longer cause for worry. Apart from the latest Sellafield accident and the THORP shutdown, everything is fine. And if it wasn’t, we would, of course be told. Security is paramount, but transparency comes a close second. This is what I keep telling Dr David Lowry, a correspondent who made a Freedom of Information request to the Health and Safety Executive seeking to discover what was known about faults at Sellafield prior to last year’s pipe rupture. He thinks the fact that he has now obtained two emails from the HSE – one sent accidentally saying that the information he seeks may well be provided after the prosecution and a later official version with that section redacted – proves that they are determined to keep the information from him. But we think age has made him cynical.
Guardian 20th July 2006
Dounreay
A clean-up of part of the Dounreay nuclear plant in Caithness has been delayed after the discovery of higher than expected levels of radiation. An underwater camera survey detected unexplained hot spots in a pond containing spent fuel used in the Dounreay Material Test Reactor (DMTR). The find has meant plans to drain the pond have been put on hold until a follow-up probe has been carried out.
BBC 19th July 2006
Wylfa
THE long-awaited government energy review has been largely welcomed on Anglesey, with indications it could avert economic catastrophe on the island. However, revelations that a new generation of nuclear power stations could be built in the UK, with the possibility of a Wylfa replacement, has drawn criticism from some, who have called the review “a farce”. A 2010 shut-down could also spell the end for Anglesey Aluminium, meaning a net loss of more than 1,500 local jobs and a significant drop in the average wage on the island.
Holyhead Mail 19th July 2006
Poland
On the face of it the blueprint for Poland that Jaroslaw Kaczynski presented to parliament was a sensible centre-right programme. To reduce Polish dependence on Russian oil and gas he favoured nuclear energy development and was counting on the supply of Norwegian gas.
The Times 20th July 2006
