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A dirty, expensive, relic – nuclear power touted by the economically illiterate

radation sign dirtyPhelim Mac Cafferty: Nuclear is a dirty expensive relic, Brighton and Hove Independent  by  on August 12, 2016  I was relieved to hear the government delay its final decision on the Hinkley Point C new nuclear power plant. Nuclear power is a dirty, expensive relic from a bygone era. Construction costs are estimated by EDF energy at £18.5 billion, while the National Audit Office (NAO) estimates that the taxpayer could face up to £30bn in costs from top up payments. Costs for the whole project will be far higher, particularly when ‘disposal’ of radioactive waste is factored in. It seems it is one rule for councils to ‘tighten their belts’ but quite another for nuclear power or Trident……..

Nuclear isn’t a clean energy as many of its backers claim. Mining uranium results in waste rock which is toxic for hundreds of thousands of years. Pollution from radioactive toxic waste hangs around for millenia. Waste is also created as a by-product of generating nuclear power itself. The Irish Sea is the most radioactively contaminated sea in the world with millions of litres of nuclear waste discharged into it daily from Sellafield. The fact that massive subsidies continue to be needed for the nuclear energy industry after over 60 years is testament to the rip off that is nuclear power. All this while the government continues to cut subsidies for renewables, particularly solar, arguing the industry must stand on its own two feet. 20,000 jobs have been shed in the fledgling industry as a result.
What is environmentally reprehensible is also economically illiterate. In Brighton and Hove, we have a considerable number of small and medium-sized energy, engineering and construction firms that would all benefit from a government investment programme in renewable energy. A major boost to our local economy and thousands of new jobs, it would simultaneously help us to cut carbon emissions and tackle climate change. This week scientists warned us we will miss global climate change targets so we have no choice but to abandon dated energy that threatens to make us the first species on the planet to consciously make itself extinct. The pressure continues to ensure the Conservative government abandon the white elephant that is Hinkley and provide energy for the 21st century by 21st century means. Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty is convenor of the Green Group on Brighton and Hove City Council. http://brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk/phelim-mac-cafferty-nuclear-dirty-expensive-relic/

August 13, 2016 - Posted by | general

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