New Nukes
Chris Goodall: This country faces a serious energy crisis. Within a decade a large fraction of the UK’s antiquated power-generating capacity, both coal-fired and nuclear, is due to close. If it is not replaced, we face a nightmarish future of power shortages and blackouts. In the meantime, we desperately need to reduce this country’s greenhouse gas emissions: 90 per cent of our energy currently comes from fossil fuels. This country’s current and past emissions are far more than our share of the world population. Unless we reduce our carbon pollution urgently, we will be in breach of our moral, as well as EU and UN, obligations.
Independent 23rd Feb 2009 more >>
Tony Juniper: Forget Nuclear and focus on renewables. Very careful analysis is still needed before going with the nuclear option. By making this choice we could inadvertently waste time and money and therefore not achieve what we could do by pursuing other options – for example, through energy efficiency, cleaner cars and renewable power.
Independent 23rd Feb 2009 more >>
Britain must embrace nuclear power if it is to meet its commitments on climate change, four of the country’s leading environmentalists – who spent much of their lives opposing atomic energy – warn today. The one-time opponents of nuclear power, who include the former head of Greenpeace, have told The Independent that they have now changed their minds over atomic energy because of the urgent need to curb emissions of carbon dioxide. They all take the view that the building of nuclear power stations is now imperative and that to delay the process with time-consuming public inquiries and legal challenges would seriously undermine Britain’s promise to cut its carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.
Independent 23rd Feb 2009 more >>
Letter: I will not rehearse the arguments against nuclear power generation versus alternative sources, for the simple reason that I would rather accept the energy deficit and all that goes with it because of the link between the civil nuclear power and the nuclear arms industry. Every advocate of civil nuclear power generation I have read, heard or met personally is either an advocate of nuclear weapons, nuclear defence policies and the so-called “nuclear deterrent”, or, frankly, must be naive, and unaware or badly informed about this insidious linking of the civil and military aspects.
Herald 23rd Feb 2009 more >>
British Energy
Centrica is under fresh pressure to drop its £3.1 billion plan to buy a 25 per cent stake in British Energy, the UK’s nuclear generator. The owner of British Gas, which is expected to report an operating profit of just under £2 billion this week, is facing mounting opposition to the proposed purchase from EDF, after a collapse in wholesale energy prices, which critics say has destroyed the economic logic of the deal.
Times 23rd Feb 2009 more >>
Scotland
SCOTLAND’S chief scientific adviser yesterday voiced her support for nuclear power, a position that left her at odds with the Scottish Government. Professor Anne Glover said nuclear should be “considered as (part of] a mix of production of energy”. Her views appeared to clash with those of the SNP government, which has ruled out new nuclear plants in Scotland.
Scotsman 23rd Feb 2009 more >>
Sellafield MoX Plant
Anti-nuclear campaigners fear that a second controversial reprocessing plant could be built at Sellafield. Government chiefs have admitted that the controversial MOX reprocessing plant at the Cumbria site has been a disappointment with it failing to achieve anywhere near its initial targets. It is now likely to be closed down despite being open for only a decade and costing the British taxpayer an estimated £472m. French nuclear company Areva, which plays an active role at Sellafield, operates two highly successful MOX plants . . . operating to a different design. Greenpeace campaigner Jean McSorely fears Areva may try to build a second MOX plant.
Newcastle Sunday Sun 22nd Feb 2009 more >>
Climate
Elliot Morley says government squabbling has derailed efforts to reduce UK carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2010 – a key Labour target from the 1997 manifesto which ministers have admitted they will miss. Carbon dioxide emissions have risen by 0.3% since Labour came to power, though Britain remains on track to meet a separate greenhouse gas target under the Kyoto protocol. Morley praised the UK’s “ground breaking” climate change bill, which commits the government to binding carbon reduction targets, but said there had been significant failures elsewhere. “Why on earth are we still building hospitals without combined heat and power? The answer is the tendering process and the private finance initiative.” He says it was “impossible to say” if he lost his ministerial role because of his doubts over on nuclear power. He is “sceptical” that nuclear can deliver more power than renewables for the same cost.
Guardian 23rd Feb 2009 more >>
Europe’s system to edge up the cost of emissions and boost green energy has backfired. There isn’t much time to rescue it. A lot of the blame lies with governments that signed up to carbon trading as a neat idea, but then indulged polluters with luxurious quantities of permits. The excuse was that growth would soon see them bumping against the ceiling.
Guardian 23rd Feb 2009 more >>
The price of carbon allowances could rise by more than 600pc in the next three years as a “perfect storm” of events causes a supply squeeze, according to a report to be issued later this week.
Telegraph 23rd Feb 2009 more >>
Iran
Iran plans to carry out computer tests on its Bushehr nuclear power plant this week in preparation for its launch, official media said on Sunday.
Reuters 22nd Feb 2009 more >>
Letter: Iran has no nuclear weapons programme.
FT 23rd Feb 2009 more >>
