National Policy Statements
The UK is pushing ahead with its nuclear expansion policy despite public opposition in the wake of the ongoing Japanese nuclear crisis at Fukushima. The Government published its finalised Energy National Policy Statements (NPSs) yesterday, confirming eight possible sites for new nuclear power stations by 2025 as part of its nuclear strategy. FoE called the nuclear expansion plan an expensive gamble. We can meet our energy needs by investing in energy efficiency and developing the UKs vast potential for clean renewable power, says campaigner Simon Bullock. He adds that while the nuclear power industry still requires government subsidies although the Coalition has insisted that it will not provide them solar power could be cost-competitive within the decade, according to a recent report. If the Government gave the same enthusiastic backing to green energy as it gives to nuclear wed be well on the road to a cleaner, safer future, says Bullock.
Energy Efficiency News 24th June 2011 more >>
Opinion Polls
At the same time as our government has restated its backing for nuclear power, a new IPSOS poll commissioned by Reuters shows a sharp world-wide drop in support for nuclear energy. In fact, it has dropped to 38%, down 16 points from 54%. This is now lower than support for coal, which is on 48%. This sharp change stems in particular from a jump in opposition to over 50% in India, China, Japan and South Korea. Not surprisingly, respondents indicated the impact of Fukushima on their thinking. But it is not just regional opposition in proximity to Japan. Of the 24 countries surveyed, support for nuclear power is lowest in Germany (21%, Italy (19%) and Mexico (18%).
CND 24th June 2011 more >>
Hartlepool
A JOBS-boosting new nuclear power station for Hartlepool has moved another step closer. The Government has confirmed eight sites where new multi-million pound reactors can be developed, and Hartlepool is one of them. Town Mayor Stuart Drummond said plants in the south would be the first to be developed but he added: We shall continue to prepare ourselves and lobby as hard as we can to get one here.
Peterlee Mail 24th June 2011 more >>
BUSINESS leaders have welcomed news that Teesside has been earmarked as one of the locations for the next generation of UK nuclear power stations. The Government has pushed ahead with plans for new plants in the UK, confirming a list of eight sites – including Hartlepool – where the next generation of reactors can be built.
Evening Gazette 24th June 2011 more >>
Hinkley
ENVIRONMENTALISTS have hit out at plans to build a new nuclear power station less than 15 miles off the South Wales coast amid concerns the region is due a tsunami. Keith Stockdale, coordinator of Barry and Vale Friends of the Earth, said the group has been campaigning for years in a bid to prevent yesterdays announcement.
South Wales Echo 24th June 2011 more >>
Oldbury
OLDBURY nuclear power station, which was due to close down in 2008, will continue to generate electricity until 2012. Oldbury Power Station has had its life extended twice but the new extension will be the final one.
Gloucestershire Gazette 24th June 2011 more >>
This is shocking – I can’t tell how many times we have been told this plant will close – see for example my blog last year. Meanwhile we hear the government is planning on building new nukes at old sites like Oldbury.
Ruscombe Green 24th June 2011 more >>
Sellafield
THE news Sellafield is an approved site for a new nuclear power station has been welcomed by leading lights in the energy industry. The power station would bring around 800 permanent jobs, on top of 5,000 construction workers and an extra 1,000 staff when engineering shutdowns take place. NuGeneration Ltd, the consortium which wants to develop the Sellafield station with up to three reactors, predicts a multi-billion pound investment for West Cumbria. Martin Forwood, chairman of Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment, said: We wait with interest to see how NuGen intends to overcome the poor geology of the site for reactor construction, the problems with extracting plutonium-saturated sea water for cooling the reactors, or syphoning yet more from local lakes and rivers, and the likely desecration of the national park with a new grid system. Given drawbacks and the stalling of the worldwide nuclear renaissance, it is hardly surprising that their decision to sink £15bn or more on three reactors wont be made until around 2015.
NW Evening Mail 24th June 2011 more >>
Carlisle News & Star 24th June 2011 more >>
Three sites in Cumbria had been listed as potential areas for new build, but energy secretary Chris Huhne said Kirksanton and Braystones would not be included on the revised draft Nuclear National Policy Statement published in October as they were not suitable for the deployment of new nuclear by 2025. Copeland MP Jamie Reed welcomed the news and said: Although we expected this news, we have worked very hard over many years to achieve it. Despite the delays, I have held a series of meetings with ministers to ensure that this announcement was made. The blunt truth is that there was a point when we were not in the running at all, but now we are in a prime position.
Whitehaven News 23rd June 2011 more >>
SEVERAL teams will share in a new Sellafield decommissioning deal worth up to £140 million over the next four years. Along with Cumbria Nuclear Solutions consortium, as reported in last weeks Whitehaven News, a number of other companies are engaged in the contract award. These are: Astrel, Jacobs E&C Ltd, Hertel Ltd, Studsvik Ltd, DEV Nuclear, Dooson Power Systems Ltd, Energy Solutions EU Ltd, Babcock Nuclear Ltd and Nuvia Ltd. The Cumbria Nuclear Solutions consortium comprises James Fisher Nuclear Ltd, React Engineering Ltd, Shepley Engineers Ltd, Stobbarts Ltd, WYG Engineering Ltd, Westinghouse Electric Co UK Ltd.
Whitehaven News 23rd June 2011 more >>
Sizewell
Andrew Nunn, Suffolk Coastal district councillor for Leiston and cabinet member for the green environment, said: We have long recognised the potential benefits of a new build at Sizewell. However, of course there are significant and wide-ranging local concerns. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty which is an issue and the councils position is that we would want communities to be able to say no if the project is going to have an unreasonable impact. Jonny Newton, the chairman of the Leiston Business Association, hoped EDF would continue to establish links with the town throughout development, adding: EDF have been genuinely good neighbours and must be seen to support the local community and certainly invest in its economy to offset the disruption of building the plant. People should see this as an opportunity.
East Anglian Daily Times 24th June 2011 more >>
Malvern Jones is on a mission to unravel some of the common misconceptions and debunk some of the myths about nuclear power. For that, there’s one man he holds culpable above all others. “My friends all call me Homer Simpson,” he jokes as we walk around the site of the Sizewell B nuclear plant.
Guardian 24th June 2011 more >>
Wylfa
WYLFA B took a giant step forward after the Government confirmed the Anglesey site was suitable for new nuclear development. Anti-nuclear campaigners vowed to step up their fight against any new build, calling it a gamble the nation cannot afford. Friends of the Earth Cymru said the plans for Wylfa should be scrapped, as apart from the risks of accidents, nuclear power was horrifically expensive. The group believes that energy efficiency and renewable energy are better solutions to the countrys energy needs, and would also provide many more jobs for people across North Wales. It said: “Nuclear is a gamble we don’t need to take.
Daily Post 24th June 2011 more >>
IAEA
IAEA members are in favour of strengthening checks on nuclear power plants, but how this should be financed was still up in the air, the UN atomic watchdog’s chief said here Friday. “There is such a strong support for increasing and strengthening the activities of the Agency, to enhance our safety,” Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told journalists at the end of a week-long conference here to discuss the lessons learnt from the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant. “I am very optimistic that we can get extensive support from the member states to raise funds,” he added.
International News 25th June 2011 more >>
AFP 24th June 2011 more >>
IN THE wake of the nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan in March, several countries have announced plans to reject nuclear power. Japan will not build any more reactors. Germany plans to phase out its nuclear power plants, Switzerland will not replace its reactors, and last week Italy voted against starting a nuclear programme. So does this mean a decade-long revival of interest in nuclear power is grinding to a halt? IAEA figures suggest not. They list 65 reactors under construction, and those figures are just the tip of the iceberg because they do not include reactors that are contracted to be built, or those being planned. Neither do they acknowledge the significance of the United Arab Emirates being on course to become the first country to go nuclear since China in 1985: the UAE has signed a deal with a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation to build four reactors. Saudi Arabia is following suit, having announced earlier this month that it will build 16 reactors by 2030. Turkey plans to build two new plants. Dozens more countries have registered an interest in the nuclear option with the IAEA, though few are likely to follow through.
New Scientist 24th June 2011 more >>
Radwaste
The best PR stunts are dressed up in expensive suits and paid for by the taxpayer. Monday’s “geology seminar” at Whitehaven was a brilliant example of nasty spin from a government who wants new nukes and desperately needs to be seen to have ‘solved’ the nuclear waste problem. Some have called for “more debate” but even if Cumbria’s geology was perfect rather than leaky there are over 100 reasons why dumping high level nuclear waste in the ground is guaranteed to poison the land and us. Here are just a few examples.
101 uses for nuclear power 24th June 2011 more >>
Ireland
The Environment Minister Phil Hogan has asked the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland to examine the impact of plans for eight new nuclear power plants in Britain. The plants form part of plans, published by the British Government, and could be in action by 2025. Critics of the plan say it is “unbelievable” that new plants would be built in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. Minister Hogan has says he is “disappointed” with the British Government’s decision.
Breaking News.ie 24th June 2011 more >>
India
India’s commerce minister has called for more cooperation with the United States on nuclear energy and brushed aside talk of scrapping ambitious plans in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima crisis. On a visit to Washington, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said he has faced questions on whether India should rethink its nuclear energy policy and responded flatly: “My answer was no.” While supporting safety reviews of nuclear establishments, Sharma said: “We are very clear it is an absolute must in the bouquet of energy resources which have to be accessed.”
AFP 24th June 2011 more >>
Pakistan and India agreed on Friday to try to ease fears about their nuclear arsenals, in unexpectedly positive talks between the two countries’ top diplomats.
Reuters 24th June 2011 more >>
Japan
Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant downplay radiation dangers, saying the risks are lower than people think.
Reuters 24th June 2011 more >>
Microgeneration
This weeks Micro Power News includes news of a solar co-operative in Warwickshire; Last ditch attempts to stop the FiT cuts in the House of Lords; A Scottish Borders Solar co-operative; Falling solar pv costs; and the Governments Microgeneration Action Plan.
Microgen Scotland 24th June 2011 more >>
