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Campaigners against Sizewell C nuclear project concerned that UK govt plans to stop local opposition to it.

Sizewell C campaigners’ fears about Government plans to accelerate nuclear
growth. Campaigners fighting plans for the Sizewell C nuclear power station
have expressed concerns about possible Government funding to help rapidly
accelerate the project.

Alison Downes, a spokesperson for campaign group
Stop Sizewell C, said she was “disturbed” about the acceleration proposal,
believing that local people could be stripped of the ability to oppose new
nuclear plants, as “planning and bureaucracy” was evaded.

She added: “We
are also concerned that industry bosses complained that the Environment
Agency and Marine Management Organisation are slowing them down. “The
notion that local people might lose their ability to oppose projects is
totally anti-democratic and detailed scrutiny by government agencies is
critical to ensure essential safeguards such as a site not flooding. East Anglian Daily Times 22nd March 2022https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/business/concerns-about-government-sizewell-acceleration-877525

March 24, 2022 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Some Brits not very impressed with their government’s newbound love affair with nuclear power.

Nuclear energy push is not powered by sense  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/23/nuclear-energy-push-is-not-powered-by-sense  Readers fail to see the logic behind the government’s drive to go for the nuclear option to generate electricity

There is much about this government’s – and, to its shame, Labour’s – newfound love affair with nuclear power that makes no sense (Johnson announces aim for UK to get 25% of electricity from nuclear power, 21 March).

First, you cannot just turn off a nuclear power station. If we have 25% of our electricity generated by nuclear, then on days when all our needs can be met by renewables we will have to turn off 25% of our much cheaper renewable feed while using expensive, taxpayer-subsidised nuclear generation.

Second, we have no way of dealing with the mountains of dangerous high-level and intermediate-level waste that has been accruing since the 1950s. To generate more is sheer madness.

Third, nuclear power stations are vulnerable to the elements and to hostile attack – cyber, terrorist, state actors etc. Recent events in the Ukraine make this very real.

Fourth, the old argument about what we do when the wind isn’t blowing and the skies are overcast over the whole of the UK, which doesn’t stand up to much scrutiny now, falls away completely if we were to invest just a small amount of the taxpayer money that will go to the nuclear industry into research and development of electricity storage.

Finally, given the nuclear industry’s track record of bringing in plants well over budget, decades late, the proposed programme is not going to be realised until 2060 at the earliest. Why on earth are we contemplating it?
John French
Brockweir, Gloucestershire

Your report states that “electricity demand is expected to rise steadily in the next decade”. The same justification was used in 2006, when the Labour government first committed to further nuclear power stations. Based on the official forecasts issued in 2006, we should by now be consuming at least 15% more electricity than we were then.

But we are not. UK electricity consumption has in practice gone down by more than 15% since 2006. In the interim, no new nuclear power stations have been added to the system. It hasn’t collapsed, and is far less carbon-intensive.

Surely we aren’t getting fooled again by the same spurious rhetoric about endless consumption growth? In that immortal phrase of the 1970s: “Save it. You know it makes sense.”
Andrew Warren
Chairman, British Energy Efficiency Federatio

 The dash to fossil fuels is not the environmental disaster set out by António Guterres (Ukraine war threatens global heating goals, warns UN chief, 21 March). It is, at worst, the replacement of existing hydrocarbons purchased from Russia. In the longer term, it is clear that alternative renewable energy sources will displace fossil fuels and most countries will wish to do this as quickly as possible.

he government’s desire, supported by Labour, for increased nuclear power generation is bizarre. A wind turbine capable of producing 15MW can be installed offshore for £10m. Sizewell C is expected to cost £20bn and produce 3.2GW of electricity – this does not include decommissioning costs. To generate 3.2GW would need 214 turbines costing £3.2bn, albeit some money would need to be spent on storage capacity. The government plans to invest £1.7bn in Sizewell C. How is spending more than five times as much on a controversial power source that takes 10 years to build a good idea?
John Blanning
Canterbury

March 24, 2022 Posted by | public opinion, UK | Leave a comment

UK Tories split over nuclear power.

Boris Johnson’s energy strategy delayed AGAIN as top Tories ‘split over
nuclear power’. It is the second time the Prime Minister’s much-hyped
long-term energy strategy in the wake of the Ukraine-Russia war has been
delayed. Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are thought to be at loggerheads
over investment UK nuclear production. The Government has admitted the
strategy will not be published this week as previously planned.

 Mirror 21st March 2022

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnsons-energy-strategy-delayed-26518640

March 24, 2022 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

Boris Johnson government to put limits on local community opposition to nuclear power

Boris Johnson prepares planning overhaul to speed up nuclear power plants.
Prime Minister considering reforms that would make it easier to build new
reactors after meetings with industry.

At a meeting with senior energy executives in Downing Street, ministers indicated that they were
considering reforming rules to make it more difficult for residents and officials to object to the construction of new nuclear sites.

Mr Johnson has previously pledged to put “big bets on nuclear power” as a way of
shoring up UK energy security following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and
concerns about the cost of imported fossil fuel.

Local people may have their ability to oppose new plants stripped away under proposals being
considered by ministers, but industry bosses are more concerned about the
Environment Agency and Marine Management Organisation wrapping their
projects in red tape and slowing them down, The Telegraph understands.

 Telegraph 21st March 2022

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/03/21/johnson-prepares-planning-overhaul-speed-nuclear-power-plants/

March 24, 2022 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

Boris Johnson’s splashy style still avoids the costs, lack of financial commitments for nuclear power development

Garden bridges, routemaster buses, oven-ready Brexit deals…Prime
Minister Boris Johnson is no stranger to eye-catching pledges and, in
fairness, he occasionally achieves them. His latest media-friendly
commitment for “big new bets” on nuclear is typical Johnsonian
politics: brash, bold and intentionally vague.

This is reflected in the UK’s nuclear strategy – which is powered by enthusiasm but weakened by
a lack of details. On the one hand, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has
brought in the Regulatory Asset Base (RAB) model to power the construction
of projects with public money.

The government has also encouraged
Rolls-Royce’s plan to build small modular reactors (SMRs) across the
country, and has approved plans for light water reactor Sizewell C, while
the much-delayed Hinkley Point C is expected to open in 2026.

However – there remains no specific target for the UK’s nuclear capacity – and
the financial commitments remain threadbare. Its net zero ten-point plan
published last October only includes up to £385m for an Advanced Nuclear
Fund, and £170m for research and development on next-gen technology such
as Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) that could unlock hydrogen and
synthetic fuels. For context, Hinkley Point C is estimated to have cost
£23bn. The hesitancy from the Chancellor raises a key question: is bulking
up nuclear power to ensure supply security even a feasible goal?

 City AM 22nd March 2022

Going Nuclear: Can Boris Johnson really ramp up nuclear power?

March 24, 2022 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

Nuclear Free Local Authorities says that UK’s new nuclear power will be 20 years too late

The energy crisis is now, new nuclear will be (at least) twenty years too
late. The Nuclear Free Local Authorities were dismayed to hear that the
door of Number 10 will today once more be held open for guests from the
nuclear power industry as Prime Minister Boris Johnson hosts a roundtable
with prospective commercial partners, ahead of a new energy statement later
this week.

Following Johnson’s proclamation that he will look to ‘place
big new bets on nuclear’ and with one cabinet member allegedly describing
the Prime Minister as ‘really gung ho for nuclear’, the participants
are likely to meet with a firm ally. Government resolve will also be
bolstered by the publication last week by the All-Party Parliamentary Group
on Nuclear Energy of a ‘roadmap’ to make sites, money and a pared-down
regulatory environment available to the nuclear industry to enable the
development of a further 15 Gigawatts of new nuclear generating capacity by
2035 and 30 GW by 2050.

The NFLA believes that this hyperbole ignores the
reality that any new nuclear projects will take too long, cost too much and
have too many uncertainties to provide a meaningful solution to the energy
and climate crisis that Britain faces now. NFLA 21st March 2022https://www.nuclearpolicy.info/news/the-energy-crisis-is-now-new-nuclear-will-be-at-least-twenty-years-too-late/

March 24, 2022 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

UK’s Green Party calls for big effort on energy efficiency and renewables – nuclear is an ”expensive distraction”

Nuclear power is a distraction from cleaner, cheaper solutions, say
Greens. Responding to the announcement by the government that it plans for
the UK to get 25% of its electricity from nuclear power, co-leader of the
Green Party, Adrian Ramsay, responded: “Nuclear energy is an expensive
distraction at a time when we face the dual challenges of spiralling energy
costs and concerns over energy security.

“Our focus needs to be on
developing renewable energy technologies and a big push on energy
efficiency. Both are cleaner and cheaper solutions that can be delivered
far quicker than nuclear ever can. “That’s why we are calling for a
£250 billion investment plan for a nationwide home retrofit scheme and
renewables in tomorrow’s Spring statement.

 Green Party 22nd March 2022

https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2022/03/22/nuclear-power-is-a-distraction-from-cleaner-cheaper-solutions-say-greens/

March 24, 2022 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

Greenpeace scathing about Boris Johnson’s plan for nuclear power.

 In response to reports that the Prime Minister wants to generate 25% of
the UK’s electricity from nuclear power, Dr Doug Parr, Chief Scientist
for Greenpeace UK, said –“Aside from the still-unresolved hazards
particular to nuclear power, the Prime Minister’s plan for 25% of power
from nuclear suggests some short memories – both Thatcher and Blair had big
plans for nuclear which ran into the sand because the technology was
expensive, slow, and prone to mishaps.

This initiative will result in lots
of time, effort and ministerial bandwidth being spent on things that
don’t deliver whilst the real solutions to our energy and climate crisis
languish with inadequate support.” Greenpeace 22nd March 2022https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/press-centre/

March 24, 2022 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

Greens firm on Scotland’s opposition to nuclear power.

THE Greens have hit back at claims the Scottish Government should rethink
its opposition to building new nuclear power stations. Greg Hands, the UK
energy minister, insisted in an interview this morning he hoped the war in
Ukraine had given Scotland a “pretext” to get behind nuclear power and be
part of its development.

 The National 21st March 2022

https://www.thenational.scot/news/20008191.greens-say-no-building-new-nuclear-power-stations/

March 24, 2022 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

Nato countries set to give Ukraine kit to protect against nuclear and chemical attacks

Nato countries set to give Ukraine kit to protect against nuclear and chemical attacks

Secretary general says equipment would be ‘to protect against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats’, Guardian,  Dan Sabbagh in Brussels and Andrew Roth, 23 Mar 22,

Nato countries are expected to agree at Thursday’s emergency summit of the western military alliance to provide special kit to protect Ukraine against any chemical, biological or nuclear attacks launched by Russia…….

The Nato chief declined to spell out exactly what would be supplied, though it is likely to include gas masks and protective suits. But his statement reflects heightened uncertainty across alliance members about Russian intentions as the invasion of Ukraine has stalled on multiple fronts.,…………………….. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/23/nato-countries-to-give-ukraine-kit-to-protect-against-chemical-and-nuclear-attacks

March 24, 2022 Posted by | safety, Ukraine | Leave a comment

Kremlin says Russia could use nuclear weapons, if its existence were threatened.

Russia could use nuclear weapons if existence threatened: Kremlin
Kremlin spokesperson says Russia has a ‘concept of domestic security’ that outlines when nuclear weapons can be used.  Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said in an interview that Russia would only use nuclear weapons if its very existence were threatened.

Peskov’s comment came as CNN interviewer Christiane Amanpour pushed him on whether he was “convinced or confident” that President Vladimir Putin would not use the nuclear option in the Ukrainian context……….  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/22/russia-only-to-use-nuclear-weapons-if-existence-threatened

March 24, 2022 Posted by | politics international, Russia, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Energy efficiency and renewables – faster, safer, than nuclear power, to move away from Russian fuel, and combat climate change.

 A recent paper by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change says reducing
our oil and gas consumption could be an important tool to help Europe
through the medium-term challenge of moving away from Russian energy.

There is a need to address energy demand now, according to Prof Nick Eyre,
director of the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions at Oxford
University, both as a result of the Ukraine crisis and to tackle climate
change.

Reducing demand and decarbonising our energy systems is something
we should be doing anyway for climate reasons, said Eyre, in order to meet
our targets for net zero. “This energy security and price crisis is
another prompt to do this,” he said. “It will be expensive – but a
windfall tax on companies who, at best, have had a pretty dubious
relationship with Russia, would help pay for it.”

Eyre said collective
action was needed, driven by government, who should bring forward immediate
detailed policies on decarbonising domestic heating in the UK. Domestic
heating produces about 14% of UK emissions, and decarbonising the way homes
are heated – meaning more efficient homes and the electrification of most
heating systems – would cost an estimated £200bn over the next 30 years,
according to the Institute for Government. Between now and 2050, emissions
from residential buildings need to fall to zero at a rate of 3.4% a year
based on current emission levels, according to the Department for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Eyre believes any new energy supply policy
– expected to be announced by Boris Johnson in the coming days – will
make no sense if it does not include energy reduction measures and the
bringing forward of detailed plans to decarbonise our homes.

“If it’s
all about building nuclear power stations, this would take 10 years, so
it’s not a very sensible strategy,” said Eyre. “Energy efficiency and
renewable energy can provide what we need more quickly and less
dangerously.” Molly Scott Cato, former Green MEP and professor of
economics at the University of Roehampton, says the UK government should
launch a massive, nationwide, and publicly funded home insulation programme
backed up by information campaigns about how to use energy efficiently,
including reducing the thermostat settings on central heating systems and
introducing a 55mph speed limit on the national road network to cut energy
demand.

 Guardian 23rd March 2022

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/23/could-a-behavioural-change-campaign-save-energy-and-cut-russian-gas-imports

March 24, 2022 Posted by | ENERGY, UK | Leave a comment

Nuclear Information and Resource Servic calls upon the Biden administration to sanction the Russian nuclear industry

This week, the Energy Transition Coalition, an alliance of Ukrainian
environmental and climate organizations, appealed directly to President
Biden to expand US sanctions to Russia’s nuclear energy sector.

The US nuclear industry initially lobbied President Biden not to do so, but in
recent days they have shifted their stance, at least publicly. We will say
more soon about why expanding sanctions to Russia’s nuclear industry
neither entails significant hardships on people in the US nor necessitates
greater investment in domestic nuclear infrastructure.

But today we focus
on why NIRS stands in solidarity with our Ukrainian counterparts and we
call on President Biden to sanction the Russian nuclear industry.

NIRS 18th March 2022  https://www.nirs.org/nirs-joins-ukrainian-calls-for-sanctions-on-russian-nuclear-industry/

March 24, 2022 Posted by | politics, USA | Leave a comment

USA’s production for plutonium ”pits”will fall short of the goal.

NNSA Pick To Review Plutonium Pit Plan As Goal Appears Out Of Reach, March 22, 2022 The Biden administration’s pick to lead the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) military programs told lawmakers he would review the plan to increase production of plutonium pits at two NNSA locations, as it becomes increasingly evident the administration will likely fall short of the… (Subscribers only)    https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/nnsa-pick-review-plutonium-pit-plan-goal-appears-out-reach

March 24, 2022 Posted by | - plutonium, USA, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Wildfires caused by global warming ‘are accelerating global warming’

Wildfires caused by global warming ‘are accelerating global warming’

Wildfires blazed around the world last summer, burning land from California to Siberia – and the carbon released is accelerating global warming.

March 24, 2022 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

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