New Nukes
Fred Pearce: I never thought Id say this but the future is nuclear. Or it should be. And I urge Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne who, like me, has been an opponent of nuclear power to embrace that future. Our energy bills depend on it. And so may our climate. Huhnes green tax sparked anger last week as it became clear that this surcharge on our energy bills will rise to £280 a year for every household by the end of the decade.
Daily Mail 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Chancellor George Osborne was urged today to put nuclear power at the forefront of the Government’s electricity supply policy. In a letter to the Chancellor, Sir William McAlpine, chairman of the pressure group Supporters of Nuclear Energy (SONE) describes the present energy policy as an imposition on consumers and industry and as failing in its objectives. “The sheer disparity between the cost of other sources – and especially offshore wind – and nuclear is startling when nuclear can reasonably be claimed to provide security of low carbon supply at affordable cost. We suggest this shows that reform of energy policy has a long way to go before it is in a position to achieve its declared objective.
Independent 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Industry
Heavy industry is set to be one of the major beneficiaries of the Autumn Statement with a £250m package of measures aimed at helping firms meet energy regulations. A trio of measures, including compensation to offset the Carbon Price Floor and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, could knock between 5pc and 10pc off electricity bills of energy intensive businesses such as steel and chemicals. The measures include up to £60m per year in compensation for companies affected directly or indirectly by the Carbon Price Floor. There will be up to £50m per year in funding to offset the cost of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. On top of these two measures the Chancellor will announce that relief from the climate change levy for heavy industries that have entered into climate change agreements will rise from 65pc to 90pc. The relief had been expected to rise to 80pc.
Telegraph 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Radwaste Transport
GERMAN police battled thousands of protesters trying to stop a train bringing radioactive waste from France. Security forces told at least 3500 demonstrators around the northern town of Harlingen to move out. With most activists remaining where they were, the police began to remove them one by one. No violence was reported while around 1300 people were detained by police. The train carrying the waste stopped for 18 hours amid the police operation against the demonstrators, and began slowly rolling again overnight. Activists said the duration of the 1200-kilometre journey from a reprocessing centre in northwestern France had now already broken the 92-hour record set last year.
AFP 28th Nov 2011 more >>
ITN 28th Nov 2011 more >>
Morning Star 27th Nov 2011 more >>
BBC 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Guardian 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Telegraph 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Scotland
Scottish ministers are under mounting pressure to reverse their embarrassing failures to put in place the policies needed to cut climate-altering pollution. As Environment and Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson arrives in Durban, South Africa, for the worlds next round of climate talks, his Government is under fierce fire at home for slashing spending on environmentally friendly travel and not doing enough to save energy in homes. The Scottish Government is criticised about failing to improve energy efficiency in homes. Although the budget proposes increasing spending on this from £48m to £65m, this is nowhere near enough, say environmental groups.
Herald 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Europe
The European Commission is considering proposing common nuclear power safety rules across the European Union. The suggestion follows analysis of preliminary conclusions from the voluntary “stress tests” of nuclear plants in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan in March this year.
Utility Week 25th Nov 2011 more >>
The European Commission has recently proposed to provide further EU assistance of 500 million to support the decommissioning in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia. These funds will contribute to the continuation of safe decommissioning of the nuclear power plants Kozloduy, Ignalina and Bohunice. This new financial assistance should support the efforts of the three Member States who are ultimately responsible for nuclear safety, including the financing of decommissioning.
Wired.gov 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Japan
The Nov/Dec issue of CNIC’s English Language newsletter is now available.
CNIC 28th Nov 2011 more >>
Denmark
Danish government proposals on Friday called for sourcing just over half of its electricity from wind turbines by 2020 and all of its energy from renewable sources in 2050. The government also invited the parties in parliament to negotiations on the proposal to shape energy policy to 2020. Denmark will take over the presidency of the European Union for six months from January 1 and aims to promote ambitious climate and energy goals for Europe.
Reuters 25th Nov 2011 more >>
Iran
Iran will bomb Turkey if the U.S. or Israel tries to destroy its nuclear installations, a senior military commander warned today. General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the aerospace division of the powerful Revolutionary Guard, threatened to target Nato’s missile defence shield in the neighbouring country. The system which Turkey only agreed to install in September, is designed to prevent Iranian missile attacks on Israel.
Daily Mail 28th Nov 2011 more >>
Iran’s parliament voted on Sunday to expel the British ambassador in retaliation for fresh Western sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear programme and warned that other countries could also be punished.
Middle East Online 27th Nov 2011 more >>
FT 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Telegraph 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Trident
The Ministry of Defence is spending £2bn on new nuclear weapons plants before a formal decision has been taken over whether to replace Trident warheads, according to ministers.
Guardian 27th Nov 2011 more >>
See also robedwards.com (with the government’s newly released, but heavily redacted, Trident ‘Value for Money’ review available to download)
Robedwards.com 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Tar Sands
The UK government has been giving secret support at the very highest levels to Canada’s campaign against European penalties on its highly polluting tar sands fuel, the Guardian can reveal. At the same time, the UK government was being lobbied by Shell and BP, which both have major tar sands projects in Alberta, and opened a new consulate in the province to “support British commercial interests”.
Guardian 27th Nov 2011 more >>
A deal to sell tar sands oil in Europe would outweigh any good the UK might do with all its other climate change measures.
Guardian 27th Nov 2011 more >>
