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UK planning Feed In Tariff for small scale renewable energy

UK Gears Up For Feed In Tariff by Energy Matters 28 jan 2010 The program will pay homes, businesses and communities for all the electricity generated by small scale renewable energy systems up to 5 megawatts. Continue reading →

January 27, 2010 Posted by | renewable, UK | , , | 1 Comment

Public enthusiasm for small scale renewable energy

(UK) Public supports ambitious scheme for micro-scale renewable energy: poll guardian.co.uk by Ashley Seagar 27 Jan 2010 Campaigners urge government to seize opportunity to turn homes into ‘green power stations’ with feed-in tariffs The public overwhelmingly support a much more ambitious scheme to push renewable energy for homes and communities, a new poll shows today ahead of a key government announcement next week. Continue reading →

January 27, 2010 Posted by | climate change, renewable, UK | , , | Leave a comment

Governments seriously pursue nuclear power despite unsolved waste problem!

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

The response below should be widely read. It is relevant for all places where new nuclear projects are planned, (as well as where longer life for aging reactors is planned.)

As a simple member of the “peasantry” “the great unwashed”, the “hoi polloi”, I am puzzled that the Experts and the Powers That Be – anywhere, can seriously contemplate going ahead with this new nuclear charade.

I fear that their inability to deal with existing nuclear waste is somehow propelling them into making more of the stuff – just so that future generations will have to cope with the problem, – as if, somehow, that gets today’s leaders off the hook, for now.

I know that this is weird and twisted logic – but IS IT THEIR LOGIC, anyway?

January 25, 2010 Posted by | Christina's notes, politics, UK, wastes | , , , , | Leave a comment

UK’s Nuclear Policy is a farce, especially re waste disposal

The document concludes: In short, the Government’s conclusion “…that effective arrangements will exist to manage and dispose of the waste that will be produced from new nuclear power stations” is not supported by the evidence. The Nuclear National Policy Statement is, therefore, not “fit for purpose”.

Stop oldbury: Response to Consultation on Nuclear National Policy Statement,  Philip Booth 23 Jan 2010 “…..Reactor designs being discussed lead to additional concerns For example the French ‘European Pressurised Reactor’ proposed will use intensive ‘high burn-up fuel’ increasing the risk of high quantities of radiation in a serious accident. This fuel is so hot and radioactive it will also need to be stored on site for 160 years, long after the power company has ceased generating electricity, creating an additional local hazard. Continue reading →

January 25, 2010 Posted by | spinbuster, UK, wastes | , , , , , | Leave a comment

UK tax-payer might have to fund new nuclear power

there was no guarantee that government will not have to step in at some point to help pay for the construction and decommissioning costs……..

UK new nuclear build will not get government subsidies The Energy Collective 22 jan 2010 Taxpayers off the hook for cost of new plants The British government will not use taxpayers’ money to subsidize the construction of new nuclear power plants, Philip Hunt, (right) minister of state at the Department of Energy and Climate Change said Jan 21. Continue reading →

January 24, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, UK | , , , , | Leave a comment

Risks of nuclear radiation are indeed real

The risks of nuclear energy are not exaggerated Most scientists in this field agree that there is danger even in small doses of radiation The Guardian, Ian Fairlie20 January 2010 You [The Guardian] reported the view that radiation risks are exaggerated, but left out vital information on radiation protection (Radiation health threat overstated – Oxford professor, 11 January). The article relied upon and extensively cited a retired ­professor of particle physics, Wade ­Allison, who is neither a radiation ­biologist nor an epidemiologist, and is not in my view an expert in radiation risks. Continue reading →

January 20, 2010 Posted by | media, UK | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Scotland moves to get half its energy from renewables

already 50 renewable energy projects scheduled that would be able to generate 4.2 gigawatts in the north of Scotland, which meets “two-thirds of peak Scottish demand”.

Scottish power upgrade for renewable energy approved Low Carbon Economy.com 07/01/2010 A power line stretching across 220km of the Highlands has been approved by the Scottish minister for energy.

The controversial Beauly to Denny line is essential for harnessing up to half of Scotland’s energy from renewable sources, according to minister Jim Mather. Continue reading →

January 8, 2010 Posted by | renewable, UK | Leave a comment

Increasing opposition to UK nuclear plant

New group opposes Hinkley Point nuclear plans BBC News 30 December 2009

A pressure group has been formed to lobby for changes to plans to build a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset. Continue reading →

December 31, 2009 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , | Leave a comment

Renewable energy beating its target in Scotland

Scotland on track to exceed targets for renewable energy Renewable Energy Focus 21 December 2009 Scotland can easily meet its targets for renewable energy and reach 300% of its target by 2020 if all pending schemes are approved. Continue reading →

December 22, 2009 Posted by | climate change, renewable, UK | , | Leave a comment

Wave and tidal power for Scotland

Energy pairing on crest of a wave The partnership plans to look for a site to the west of Shetland BBC News 15 Dec 09

One of Europe’s biggest energy companies has teamed up with an Edinburgh firm to develop the first wave power project off Shetland. Continue reading →

December 16, 2009 Posted by | renewable, UK | , | Leave a comment

Exorbitant costs for atomic vets seeking compensation

Nuclear tests victioms’ outrage as legal bill soars to 16 million pounds sterling Mirror.co.uk By Susie Boniface 13/12/2009

Lawyers have charged £16million in the battle to get justice for Britain’s nuclear test veterans.

The money has been spent by legal teams for the UK Ministry of Defence and the veterans during a fiercely contested High Court action. It means the final bill could be much higher than any com-pensation eventually received. Continue reading →

December 14, 2009 Posted by | Legal, UK | , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear plant must pay up for workers’ radiation exposure

December 9, 2009 Nuclear plant owners fined after contractors suffer radiation exposure in Ireland   Daily Commercial News BELFAST, Ireland Operators of the Sellafield nuclear plant were fined $135,000 in court and ordered to pay $46,000 in costs after two contractors suffered radiation exposure.The contractors were drilling through a concrete floor contaminated with plutonium in a waste facility when the incident happened at the Cumbrian reprocessing plant.The men were exposed to higher-than-anticipated levels of radiation in the incident in July 2007,

Nuclear plant owners fined after contractors suffer radiation exposure in Ireland – Daily Commercial News

December 10, 2009 Posted by | 1, Legal, UK | , , , , | Leave a comment

UK govt dismisses its own experts’ nuke waste advice

Nuclear “Smoke and Mirrors” in Lancaster virtual-lancaster.net news blog 4 Dec 09 Lancaster Town Hall recently played host to some very clever nuclear smoke and mirrors from the Department of Energy and Climate Change in the form of a slick travelling exhibition promoting extensive new nuclear build at Heysham. But despite government assurances on display that arrangements exist or will exist for the long term management of radioactive waste generated by Britain’s civil nuclear program, those claims have now been challenged by experts on the issue. Continue reading →

December 5, 2009 Posted by | 1, spinbuster, UK | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fears over nuclear waste dumping in UK

New fears over nuclear waste site LEP.co.uk  04 December 2009

Concerns have been raised that radioactive rubbish from across the UK will be dumped on the outskirts of a Lancashire city. Continue reading →

December 5, 2009 Posted by | 1, UK, wastes | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No nuclear power plants for UK’s Conservative Party

We will not build nuclear power plants if elected – Tory adviser

North West Evening Mail 02 December 2009

David Cameron’s green adviser has thrown more doubt on where the party stands over nuclear power after declaring no new stations would be built under a Tory government.

Zac Goldsmith, the Tory candidate for Richmond, and one of Mr Cameron’s closest advisers on the environment, insisted no new nuclear power stations would be built if the Conservatives were to win the next general election.

He said Tory policy “was to give a green light to nuclear power as long as there is no call on the taxpayer, not just in terms of building, but maintenance, security and disposal of waste. In the history of nuclear power there has never been a station built without huge use of taxpayers’ subsidy.”…..Mr Cameron himself two years ago said the power source was a “last resort”.

December 4, 2009 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , | Leave a comment