Electricity Market Reforms
Government officials have admitted that the shake-up of the electricity market to generate more green and nuclear energy will raise power prices by more than 50 per cent much higher than indicated previously. The Department of Energy and Climate Change has come clean on the effects of Chris Huhne’s plans to subsidise nuclear power and renewable energy schemes after the Energy Secretary said that bills would go up by only £160 a year. In an attempt to play down the costs of his ambitious plans, he had claimed that by 2030 the average annual electricity bill would rise from the existing £493 to £653 an increase of 32 per cent. However, inquiries by The Times show that the department believes that under Mr Huhne’s reforms the unit price of electricity will rise from £118 per megawatt hour to £179/mwh an increase of 52 per cent over 20 years. On that basis, electricity bills would rise on average by £255 a year to £748. When inflation is factored in, electricity bills would double to about £1,000. According to the department’s figures, Mr Huhne’s electricity bill forecast was based on assumptions that households will cut consumption by 12.5 per cent over the next 20 years.
The Times 3rd Jan 2011 more >>
Scotland
The UK Government has outlined plans to reform the electricity market, with the nuclear option likely to be explored. However, WWF Scotland, which has its headquarters in Dunkeld, insists there is “no need” for nuclear power, which would be “a huge backward step.” Dr Sam Gardner, climate change policy officer with WWF Scotland, said, “The electricity market reform exercise must put the right framework in place to secure Scotland’s renewable potential and meet the Scottish Government’s strong commitment to a decarbonised power sector by 2030,” he said.
Dundee Courier 3rd Jan 2011 more >>
Nuclear Clean-Up
The cleanup of sites contaminated by radioactivity, primarily from the historic production of nuclear weapons during and after World War II, continues to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Researchers have now invented a new type of radiation detection and measurement device that they say will be particularly useful for such cleanup efforts by making the process faster, more accurate and less expensive.
Gizmag 2nd Jan 2011 more >>
Submarines
A second section of a nuclear submarine reactor is being cut up Plymouth, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Protests erupted two years ago when it emerged that a 28-ton irradiated reactor part from HMS Victorious was being sliced into smaller pieces at Devonport Dockyard. Although nuclear regulators said the work posed no risk to the public or environment, and the Ministry of Defence stressed it was not part of a long-term project to dispose of decommissioned submarines, outraged campaigners accused the MoD of ignoring public opposition to any nuclear disposal work in the city. It has now emerged that another reactor head from the Devonport-based hunter-killer submarine HMS Trenchant, which was removed during a refit in 2001, is currently being cut up in the dockyard.
Plymouth Herald 3rd Jan 2011 more >>
Nuclear Tests
British troops WERE knowingly exposed to radiation during nuclear fallout tests, a top-secret document has finally proved. For five decades, successive governments have denied any harm was caused to the 22,000 servicemen ordered to witness nuclear bomb tests in the Fifties and Sixties – saying the explosions were to test the weapons, not their effects on humans, and the men were at a safe distance.
Daily Mirror 2nd Jan 2011 more >>
Israel
Secret British documents released on Thursday, showed that a UK ambassador to Israel warned as early as 1980 that Israel would detonate a nuclear bomb in case of a new war with the Arabs.
Al Jazeera 2nd Jan 2011 more >>
