Today, as the Government’s
Energy White Paper is published and the 2nd nuclear consultation
is launched, Mick Bates has warned that building nuclear power
plants would be a huge missed opportunity to take advantage of
Wales renewable energy options .
Commenting, Mick said:
“The Government is in grave danger of wasting the golden
opportunity to combat climate change and take advantage of our
huge renewable energy potential if it continues down the nuclear
road.
“Wales can become a world leader in clean, home-grown energy. But
more nuclear power would divert so much money away from offshore
wind, marine power and biomass that this goal would be shot to
pieces. And this exactly what the Government said in 2003.
“Nuclear power has already consumed the vast majority of
investment in energy. Budgets have nearly always been grossly
underestimated and deadlines hopelessly optimistic. And we have
little to show for it except a £90bn clean up bill.
“When all the nuclear waste in Wales is accounted for, there will
be enough to fill 60 Olympic size swimming pools. And we still
have no idea what to do with this waste.
“What’s more, nuclear would only scratch the surface in the fight
against climate change cutting carbon emissions by only a few
percent in 20 years time or so.
“Alistair Darling has already said that new nuclear stations would
be best built on existing nuclear sites. If the Government
bulldozes through nuclear power there is real chance that Wylfa or
Trawsfynydd in Wales could be picked.
“We need to send a collective message to Gordon Brown that we want
Wales to have a clean green future, and not a nuclear one.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
On publication of the 2003 Energy White Paper, Patricia Hewitt, then
Secretary if State for Industry and Trade, said:
"It would have been foolish to announce ... that we would embark on
a new generation of nuclear power stations because that would have
guaranteed that we would not make the necessary investment and
effort in both energy efficiency and in renewables. That is why we
are not going to build a new generation of nuclear power stations
now."
See:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030224/
debtext/30224-07.htm
According to the latest Nirex Radioactive Waste Inventory, by the
time the two nuclear power stations in Wales have been fully cleaned
up, they will have produced 150,000m3 of nuclear waste. The
information can be found under Table A1.8 on p.67 under total
packaged volume of waste, see:
http://www.nda.gov.uk/documents/upload/N090-The-2004-UK-Radioactive-Wastes-Inventory-main-report.pdf
An Olympic size swimming pool has a total volume of 2,500m3.
Therefore the nuclear waste in Wales would be enough to fill 60
Olympic size swimming pools.
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