Government plans u-turn on nuclear subsidies5 April 2011
New legislation could see the Government propping up a new generation of nuclear plants, Friends of the Earth has discovered.
The coalition Government has repeatedly promised that the nuclear industry will not receive any public subsidies if it builds a new generation of reactors in the UK.
But the reality is that the nuclear industry is set to benefit from all sorts of hidden subsidies, including measures that will favour "low-carbon power generation" - a definition that includes nuclear power.
Now Friends of the Earth has discovered a clause in the Energy Bill which could lead to taxpayers paying for any unexpected additional costs relating to the decommissioning of nuclear power stations or managing radioactive waste.
The discovery is reported in today's Guardian.
Friends of the Earth is calling for public money to be invested in renewable energy schemes rather than taking a gamble on nuclear.
Please sign our petition for cleaner, safer energy.
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