New Nukes
Letter from Adam Smith Institute: Energy secretary Chris Huhne’s proposal to end subsidies for nuclear energy generation is hugely inconsistent. Every other form of non-fossil fuel generation gets massive subsidies, so why single out nuclear? The reason, of course, is that nuclear subsidies would come out of taxation. The subsidies paid to wind, hydroelectric and solar energy generation are paid directly by householders, as the Renewables Obligation, which adds almost £300 a year to their energy bills. It is much easier for a politician to continue this stealth tax on households than to raise a new tax to support nuclear generation.
FT 28th July 2010 more >>
CHRIS Huhne, the energy secretary, threw his weight behind new nuclear energy yesterday, reversing years of Liberal Democrat opposition to nuclear power. Huhne said a nuclear building programme would be “on track by 2018”, suggesting the government will move faster than originally thought. The Institute of Directors welcomed the announcement, but called on the government to introduce a fast-track planning process.
City AM 28th July 2010 more >>
THE coalition government set itself on course for a potential clash with Holyrood ministers and its own backbenchers yesterday as it announced a commitment to support the development of new nuclear power stations. UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said it was clear new facilities for nuclear generation should be permitted to proceed, a move that directly contradicts the SNP and Lib Dem policy that no such power stations should be built in Scotland.
Scotsman 28th July 2010 more >>
IF THE areas for potential Lib Dem/ Conservative splits in the coalition were not already considerable, another one has been added – and with real voltage in Scotland. In setting out yesterday a commitment to support the development of new nuclear power stations, UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne looks to have lit the fuse for a clash with the SNP administration in Edinburgh and also with his own Lib Dem back-benchers.
Scotsman 28th July 2010 more >>
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne backed an aggressively timetabled nuclear building programme yesterday for the first time. Although mention of nuclear power is conspicuously absent from DECC’s draft structural reform plan – a set of deadlines for the roll out of everything from smart meters to CCS trials – in a press conference held immediately after his statement to Parliament, Huhne said new nuclear would be “on track by 2018”. The acknowledgement is a considerable departure from the Liberal Democrat’s traditional opposition to new nuclear power stations, although in previous statements Huhne has said nuclear must be part of the UK’s energy mix.
Both Huhne and Conservative energy minister Charles Hendry repeated the assertion that no public money is available for new nuclear build.
Business Green 27th July 2010 more >>
EDF
The French government Tuesday announced a far-reaching alliance between State-controlled utility giant Electricite de France (EDF.FR) and State nuclear engineering group Areva SA (CEI.FR), which will touch on all areas of common interest, opening the door for EDF to build a stake in Areva and perhaps putting it firmly at the center of France’s nuclear sector.
Wall Street Journal 27th July 2010 more >>
Energy Supplies
Electricity generation in the UK will double. Cars, hot water and the heating of buildings will be electrified. A new nuclear renaissance on a par with France’s rush to nuclear in the 1970s will have taken place and fossil fuel power stations will capture 90% of their carbon emissions. This is just one picture of how Britain could hit its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050, as painted by a new calculator launched by the government today.
Guardian 27th July 2010 more >>
Oldbury
Tim Proudler (Horizon) reply to SANE: We don’t believe the NPS re-consultation will affect our timetable for Oldbury, provided it is conducted promptly. It is much better that we have accurate guidance for the planning authorities, and if it takes a little time to make sure the public have had their say on it, all the better.
Shepperdine Against Nuclear Energy 27th July 2010 more >>
As any fool can see ,from Horizons latest newsletters, the Shepperdine site will have its first reactor in 2025 at the earliest.—It is therfore impossible to have 6000 MW of nuclear power by 2025. We would suggest that if Wylfa progresses well and Oldbury is chosen as a suitable site by the rehashed NPSs——Even though it is not a suitable site—–Horizon will have 3000MW of nuclear energy by 2025.—–If some crazy financial consortium decides to take on the risk!!
Shepperdine Against Nuclear Energy 27th July 2010 more >>
Wylfa
The UK electricity market needs urgent reform if Wylfa B on Anglesey, along with other new nuclear build projects in Britain, are to succeed, says a KPMG report.
Anglesey Today 27th July 2010 more >>
Waste Transport
Aboriginal voices have joined the growing international chorus opposing plans to ship radioactive nuclear generators along the Great Lakes. The Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People, representing 7,000 status, non-status Indians and Metis, opposes the plan by Bruce Power and is demanding consultation and accommodation from the provincial and federal governments.
London Free Press 27th July 2010 more >>
Trident
U.K. Needs Alternative to Trident Submarine Nuclear Deterrent, RUSI Says.
Bloomberg 28th July 2010 more >>
A UNIFIED response has been delivered by city MPs amid calls for the Government to scale back Britain’s nuclear deterrent. A paper by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) thinktank says ministers should consider dropping the requirement that there should always be at least one nuclear missile submarine on patrol at sea. So-called continuous-at-sea-deterrence (CASD) has been the basis of Britain’s strategic nuclear deterrent since the first Polaris submarines, the predecessor of Trident, were deployed in 1968. The RUSI paper by Professor Malcolm Chambers, a former adviser to Labou Foreign Secretaries Jack Straw and Margaret Beckett, suggests that CASD is no longer necessary following the end of the Cold War. Plymouth MPs today rubbished the suggestion, and insisted the submarines, which undergo maintenance in Plymouth, were continuously deployed for a ‘very good’ reason.
Plymouth Herald 28th July 2010 more >>
India
The Government is to allow the export of British civil nuclear technology to India.
ITN 28th July 2010 more >>
Guardian 28th July 2010 more >>
Telegraph 28th July 2010 more >>
