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Scotland government will double down on opposition to new nuclear power stations north of the border.

JOHN Swinney is set to renew the Scottish Government’s opposition to new
nuclear power stations being built north of the border. The Deputy First
Minister will double down on his Government’s stance when he delivers his
keynote speech to SNP conference today.

Energy policy is reserved to Westminster, but the Scottish Government can effectively veto proposals
north of the border through devolved planning rules.

Since becoming Prime Minister last month, Liz Truss has repeatedly called for the Scottish
Government to change its tune on nuclear power. But the Scottish Government
has insisted it has no intention of doing so, when its delayed updated
energy strategy is published later this year.

Mr Swinney is expected to tell the SNP conference: “Scotland is a nation rich in energy resources
– we have a plentiful supply of clean, green, affordable renewable
energy. “The equivalent of almost 100 per cent of our electricity demand
is from renewable sources.

Not only is Scotland self-sufficient in natural
gas, we are a huge exporter. “Scotland is secure in energy.

So, we need no lectures from Liz Truss about security of energy supply. It is the UK
that has failed to achieve energy security, with the National Grid warning
of possible power cuts this winter. “And Scotland is not going to put up
with a new round of nuclear power stations to make up for the failure of
energy policy in the United Kingdom.” He will add: “Despite our huge
strength in energy, 150,000 more people in Scotland will be forced into
extreme fuel poverty as a result of the UK Government’s increase to the
energy price cap in September. “We are an energy rich nation, but 35% of
our citizens live in fuel poverty. Why is that? Because, while Scotland has
the energy, Westminster has the power. And how Westminster chooses to use
its reserved power has consistently, and deliberately, disadvantaged
Scotland.”

 Herald 9th Oct 2022

https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23033613.john-swinney-stress-scotland-will-not-put-with-nuclear-power-make-uk-failures/

October 9, 2022 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK