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Government pressed to hold inquiry into construction of nuclear stations

Government pressed to hold inquiry into construction of nuclear stations• Academics and green groups say system for assessing need is ‘fatally flawed’• Worries over leaving final decision on nuclear plants to Ed Miliband The Guardian, Terry Macalister  17 May 2009

The government is under growing pressure to hold a public inquiry into building new nuclear stations amid claims that the current system of “justification” is fatally flawed and that public confidence in ministers is at an all-time low.

A group of leading academics has joined green pressure groups and others in demanding greater transparency. The justification process is required by the European Union as a high-level assessment to ensure the benefits of new-build nuclear stations outweigh potential detriment…………….

The atomic industry is attacked for having “very high” opportunity costs and will suck investment out of renewables. It cites the example of AMEC selling off its wind energy subsidiary to put its efforts into Sellafield nuclear site, where it has just become a joint manager.

Dorfman and his colleagues, who also include Professor Keith Barnham from Imperial College and Professor Gordon Walker from Lancaster University, say nuclear has a history of cost over-runs at the expense of the taypayer, noting the financial problems of British Energy and the £80bn cost of cleaning up atomic waste.

Government pressed to hold inquiry into construction of nuclear stations | Business | guardian.co.uk

May 18, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized