nuclear-news

Scotland – SNP: Public funding for nuclear projects shows Westminster cannot be trusted

“Scotland has massive renewable resources and as European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said just a few weeks ago, can be a renewable energy powerhouse of Europe. Why on earth would anyone want to put all of that at risk by diverting money to pay for new nuclear white-elephants that are significantly more expensive than renewables?

Gunther Oettinger

Wednesday 27th March 2013 | 10:59

SNP press release

The announcement of public funding for nuclear energy projects has shattered Westminster’s no nuclear subsidy promise and demonstrated that the Westminster Government simply cannot be trusted to keep its word.

Figure 7: Projected Scottish Electricity Generation Mix to 2020 (from Scottish Energy Study Volume 5, 2008)

Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced £31 million in public funding for companies involved in the nuclear energy industry, making a mockery of the Westminster Government’s coalition agreement promise that there would be ‘no public subsidy’ for new nuclear energy.

The coalition agreement also states that ‘Liberal Democrats have long opposed any new nuclear construction’, raising questions as to why Vince Cable has allocated funds in this way.

Commenting, SNP Energy Spokesperson Mike Weir MP said:

“This funding announcement clearly breaks the Westminster Government’s promise and completely undermines the credibility of Vince Cable and the Lib Dems.

“With a recent opinion poll showing that a majority of people in Scotland are opposed to new nuclear energy, there is no justification for Westminster to be wasting public money in this way.

“Nuclear energy simply cannot be delivered without eye-wateringly high levels of subsidy. In these difficult economic times, the last thing people need is to see their money wasted on nuclear white elephants that are significantly more expensive than renewable options.

“Scotland has massive renewable resources and as European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said just a few weeks ago, can be a renewable energy powerhouse of Europe. Why on earth would anyone want to put all of that at risk by diverting money to pay for new nuclear white-elephants that are significantly more expensive than renewables?

“With the Westminster Government breaking promise after promise, it is little wonder that people in Scotland want major decisions to be made by a Scottish Government directly accountable to people living here.

“Only a Yes vote will ensure that the decisions that matter to Scotland are made by a Scottish Parliament directly elected by people living in Scotland.”

http://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/75355/snp_public_funding_for_nuclear_projects_shows_westminster_cannot_be_trusted.html

“…Why on earth would anyone want to put all of that at risk by diverting money to pay for new nuclear white-elephants that are significantly more expensive than renewables?…”

March 27, 2013 - Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized