Campaigners strongly opposed to nuclear option
January 14, 2008
Environment campaign groups have responded furiously to the Government’s plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations, while opposition groups are divided on the issue.
The Conservatives broadly support the plans while the Liberal Democrats strongly oppose them.
At a carefully planned launch of the Nuclear White Paper and the Energy Bill, the Energy Secretary, John Hutton, said, "Giving the go-ahead today that new nuclear power should play a role in providing the UK with clean, secure and affordable energy is in our country's vital long term interest… We should positively embrace the opportunity of delivering this important part of our energy policy."
However, the campaign group Friends of the Earth (FoE) said the Government’s decision to give the go-ahead to nuclear power would "undermine safe and sustainable solutions to Britain's energy problems" and do little to tackle climate change.
FoE’s Director, Tony Juniper, said, "New reactors are not the answer to UK energy problems and will do little to tackle climate change… Britain already languishes near the bottom of the EU league table on green energy. The Government's nuclear love affair is likely to lead to the continued underinvestment in these technologies."
Similarly, the Liberal Democrats Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Webb said, "This is a flawed decision based on a sham consultation. There is a real risk that focusing on new nuclear plants will undermine attempts to find a cleaner, greener, more sustainable and secure solution."
In contrast, Alan Duncan, the Shadow Secretary for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, welcomed the Government's statement on nuclear energy, and offered reassurances to businesses wanting to invest in nuclear power stations, promising that the investment climate would remain stable under a Conservative Government.
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