Bosses and Unions misguided on nukes

Friends of the Earth Cymru has attacked calls for more nuclear power in Wales as misguided and accused the TUC and CBI in Wales of inflating the role that nuclear power plays in Welsh energy provision. The calls come as Tony Blair seems to be signalling a shift in favour of more nuclear plants in the UK.

The group points out that both the CBI and TUC claim that nuclear power supplies nearly a third of Wales' energy [1]. It does not. It generates around thirty per cent of Wales' electricity but, as electricity provides only seventeen per cent of our total energy requirement, the contribution of nuclear power amounts to less than six per cent.

Friends of the Earth Cymru also accuses the organisations, and the Prime Minister, of raising spectres of fuel shortages which couldn't be filled by nuclear power stations which would take at least ten years to build.

Julian Rosser, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru commented,

"It's a great pity to see the CBI and TUC getting together in Wales to distort the important debate about energy provision. Climate change is the biggest threat we face but nuclear power is too risky to be a part of the solution.

"Wales can meet its energy needs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs by investing in energy efficiency and clean renewable energy sources. With support, Wales could generate over fifty per cent of its electricity needs from renewables within ten years. That's the sort of bold agenda the CBI and TUC should be supporting."

Notes

[1] "Nuclear power currently contributes around 30% of our energy needs and it provides a major carbon-free source of energy." TUC Cymru response to Assembly Government Energy routemap consultation, September 2005

"To pretend that nuclear generation does not exist when it currently generates 30% of Wales' energy supply, undermines the credibility of the whole document, and of the Assembly Government's thinking in this area."
CBI Wales response to Assembly Government Energy routemap consultation, September 2005

[2] Nuclear power is not the solution to tackling climate change:

• There are more cost effective and far safer ways to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions - the UK has very significant renewable energy resources while huge potential exists to reduce electricity demand through efficiency gains that would not affect our quality of life.
• The Government could show global leadership on developing renewable resources and energy efficiency, rather than promoting nuclear power which would increase the risk of nuclear weapon proliferation around the world.
• Nuclear power is expensive and has consistently proved more expensive than industry claims. In 2003, the Cabinet Office estimated that nuclear power would cost more per KWh than either on-shore or off-shore wind.
• Nuclear power does not necessarily offer substantial reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. Indeed doubling nuclear power generation in the UK would cut our greenhouse gas emissions by no more than eight per cent.
• Nuclear power would not make the UK self-sufficient in energy, and thus would not guarantee security of supply. It won't replace gas, which we will increasingly get from Norway and the Netherlands. Nor will it replace oil, with much of our imports coming from Norway. We have significant renewable sources, including biomass, with which we can produce all our electricity.
• Nuclear power creates nuclear waste which could pose threats to public safety for generations to come. No solution has been found for its disposal. Management of the waste is also expensive, so is the closure of stations and clean up of contaminated sites.
• Nuclear energy only produces electricity and will not replace petrol or diesel as a fuel for cars, lorries, ships and planes - road transport is currently the source of around 22 per cent of UK carbon dioxide emissions, and aviation is the fastest growing source of CO2 emissions.
• Nuclear power will not replace gas for heating our homes and for business - natural gas currently accounts for 33 per cent of our total final energy use.
• Nuclear energy will not meet our short-term energy needs. Even if give the go-ahead, according to the nuclear industry, new nuclear power stations would not come on-line for an estimated 10-15 years. New nuclear can therefore do nothing to help the short term supply issues that the CBI and others claim is faced by the UK. Other options, such as a growth in renewable energy and energy efficiency are quicker and cheaper.
• Nuclear power stations are a potential target for terrorists, while nuclear materials could fall into terrorist hands threatening the detonation by terrorist organisations of 'dirty bombs' or worse still crude nuclear weapons.