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UK could save billions by cutting back on Trident nuclear submatrines

Billions could be saved by scaling down Trident | Reuters(Reuters) 22 May 2010,  – Britain may be able to save about 11 billion pounds in defence costs if it were to end its policy of keeping at least one nuclear armed-submarine at sea at all times, a prominent defence think-tank said.UK | David CameronDefence spending is a prime candidate for cuts as Prime Minister David Cameron seeks ways to reduce a budget deficit set to reach 163 billion pounds this financial year.Cameron’s government outlined plans on Thursday to reduce the deficit, before an emergency budget due on June 22, including cutting defence ministry running costs by 25 percent.Controversy has swirled around Britain’s submarine-based nuclear weapons system, or Trident, with the Liberal Democrat party, the junior partner in the new coalition government, arguing that it should be replaced with a cheaper alternative.The Conservative Party, the coalition’s senior partner, wants to keep Trident.

Billions could be saved by scaling down Trident | Reuters

May 22, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, UK | , , | Leave a comment

South of UK shows the way to truly clean energy living

An ambitious and comprehensive plan that relies on greatly increased renewable energy usage and a 50% reduction in primary energy demand in the town, it concentrates on community engagement and showing how attractive life in 2030 could be without fossil fuels.

A Swell Day for Renewable Energy in the South West – Better Generation (UK) 18 May 2010, The South-West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) have released an update informing the renewable energy world that “Wave Hub,” the world’s largest offshore wave energy testing facility, is on course to be deployed this summer with fabrication of sub-sea cables and the hub itself nearing completion. The site will create a “grid-connected socket on the seabed… To which wave power devices can be connected and their performance evaluated.”………. Continue reading →

May 20, 2010 Posted by | renewable, UK | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UK’s renewable energy incentives with Feed In Tariffs

How feed in tariffs could ‘democratise’ renewable energy generation,  Engineer Live, 18 May 2010, Suddenly, the rewards for generating electricity from low carbon sources are within the reach of far more people than ever before. Continue reading →

May 19, 2010 Posted by | renewable, UK | , , , , , | Leave a comment

UK’s energy future could now be renewables, not nuclear

nuclear plants are not needed if the government will invest enough in energy conservation. Huhne’s opposition may create enough uncertainty and delay to open windows of opportunity for other energy technologies including wind and tidal energy.

Will the new U.K. government support nuclear energy? The Energy Collective,  by Dan Yurman, 17 May 2010, Energy & Climate Minister pledges “not one atom of help” from the governmentThe future of nuclear energy in the U.K. does not look bright based on the rhetoric coming from Chris Huhne, (right) the new government’s Energy & Climate minister and key advisor to Conservative Party coalition partner David Cameron. Continue reading →

May 18, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , , | Leave a comment

UK’s nuclear plans hit by one blow after another

Another blow to nuclear plans, Ruscombe Green, 17 May 2010, “….new uncertainty over new nukes following the appointment of anti-nuclear Energy Secretary Chris Huhne. He has strengthened his assertion that new nuclear build will not receive any Government subsidies including in the event of a nuclear accident…….
Nuke-waste subsidy?
Chris Huhne may also be under pressure from anti-nuclear Lib-Dem colleagues to examine other potential aspects of Government subsidy Continue reading →

May 16, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UK Green Party set to grow, due to the nuclear issue

Green Party Set to Gather Disaffected Lib Dems, The Energy Collective, Vicky Portwain on 05/15/2010, The Green Party has asked Lib Dem voters not happy with Nick Clegg joining forces with the Tories to talk to the Greens instead. Green Party MSP Patrick Harvie said “Lib Dem members and supporters did not work hard over the last weeks and months to see their party become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Tories“. He said the Liberal Conservative coalition decision “will be the death-knell for the Lib Dems here in Scotland“.Caroline Lucas MP, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, said:“The Lib Dems have shown themselves to be not so much a party of change as a party of changing its mind…….The Lib Dems are likely to lose people who are anti-nuclear energy to the Greens who have confirmed their “unequivocal opposition to nuclear power“. Green Party Set to Gather Disaffected Lib Dems

May 16, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , | Leave a comment

UK’s opportunity for alternatives to nuclear power

In fact more nonnuclear generation is already under construction and will come on-line by 2015 than is scheduled to go off-line.

Another blow to nuclear plans, Ruscombe Green, 17 May 2010, Alternatives to nukes Last month a PricewaterhouseCoopers study showed that Europe could meet all its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2050 by using a “super-smart” grid powered by solar farms in North Africa, wind farms in northern Europe and the North Sea, hydro-electric from Scandinavia and the Alps and a complement of biomass and marine energy Continue reading →

May 16, 2010 Posted by | renewable, UK | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear power: far from a done deal in UK

Nuclear or no nuclear….the first dispute for the UK’s newly elected Cameron-Clegg coalition, The Energy Collectiev, 14 May 2010,”……….. A major dispute already facing our new parliament in the first day of office is that of nuclear energy. Whilst the Tories are supportive of building nuclear power stations, the Liberal Democrats are against this. Simon Hughes, energy spokesperson for Liberal Democrats states that “A new generation of nuclear power stations will be a colossal mistake, regardless of where they are built. They are hugely expensive, dangerous and will take too long to build.”(Source: Guardian Environment, 11-May-10)

Nuclear or no nuclear….the first dispute for the UK’s newly elected Cameron-Clegg coalition

May 15, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Britain’s nuclear power huge investment needed without govt subsidy

Mr Huhne yesterday reiterated his sceptical position about new reactors, telling BBC News that they would go ahead only if energy companies were prepared to invest without any new government subsidy, and warning: “No new nuclear power station has been built without new public subsidy for a very long time.”

Billions likely to be spent on nuclear power, FT.com, By Ed Crooks, Energy editor   May 14 2010 Tens of billions of pounds of investment in new nuclear power stations can still go ahead, in spite of the appointment of the Liberal Democrats’ Chris Huhne as energy secretary, industry executives said yesterday. Continue reading →

May 14, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , , , | Leave a comment

UK’s new coalition government will promote renewable energy, not nuclear

Blue and yellow make green as the new Government’s policies emerge, Telegraph UK, 12 May 2010, Nuclear power, coal and airport expansion look like being the big losers under the new government,  with energy-saving, renewables and greener transport the big winners.  …… Continue reading →

May 13, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , , | 1 Comment

New British government likely to promote renewable energy

any attempts by Conservatives to prevent certain [renewable] technologies from being built via changes to the planning system or fiscal measures are likely to be picked up and prevented by the Lib Dems.

What Could the UK Election Results Mean for future Energy Policy? , The Energy Collective, by Vicky Portwain on 05/11/2010“……..if the Conservatives and the Lib Dems do manage somehow to overcome their differences – what would be the outcome for UK energy policy? Continue reading →

May 12, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , , , | Leave a comment

UK govt tries to stall atomic compensation case as veterans aging and dying

Many are terminally ill and seven – including five of the test case claimants – have died since the litigation began.

MoD appeals against atomic test veteran claims ruling, – Telegraph UK , The Ministry of Defence has launched an appeal against a court ruling which allowed Britain’s atomic test veterans to claim damages. 7 May 2010 Last June, High Court judge Mr Justice Foskett ruled that 10 test cases out of 1,011 claims could proceed to full trial. Continue reading →

May 8, 2010 Posted by | Legal, UK | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UK govt’s Sustainable Development Commission finds that nuclear is not the answer

Is nuclear the answer? · · Sustainable Development Commission 3 May 2010, Nuclear power is not the answer to tackling climate change or security of supply, according tothe Sustainable Development Commission.In response to the Government’s current Energy Review, the SDC nuclear report draws together the most comprehensive evidence base available, to find that there is no justification for bringing forward a new nuclear power programme at present. Continue reading →

May 4, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Britsh nuclear submarines at sea despite dangerous safety defects

Nuclear submarines went to sea with potentially disastrous defect. British vessels Turbulent and Tireless allowed to leave port with safety valves sealed off, risking catastrophic explosion, leaked memo reveals mo reveals Severin Carrell and Rob Edwards guardian.co.uk, Sunday 2 May 2010
Two British nuclear submarines went to sea with a potentially disastrous safety problem that left both vessels at risk of a catastrophic accident, the Guardian can reveal. Continue reading →

May 3, 2010 Posted by | safety, UK | , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear “deterrence” does not make us safer

the claim that a nuclear deterrent makes us feel safer, seems, to put it plainly, bollocks.

(UK) Who’s afraid of the nuclear bomb?The debate over Trident has sparked differing reactions between the cold war and 9/11 generations – but why? Richard Rogers * guardian.co.uk,   28 April 2010 “….Back in the UK, the nation watched as Nick Clegg made the Lib Dems’ case for reviewing the replacement of Trident – arguing for the need to look for a cheaper alternative or possibly, just possibly, even abandon an independent nuclear deterrent for Britain completely………. Continue reading →

April 30, 2010 Posted by | UK, weapons and war | , , , , , | Leave a comment