Secret Papers Reveal New Nuclear Building Plan

[chlamor]

Secret papers reveal new nuclear building plan

Oliver Morgan, industrial editor
Sunday May 8, 2005
The Observer

The government's strategy to kick-start a huge nuclear power station building programme is revealed today in confidential Whitehall documents seen by The Observer.

In a 46-paragraph briefing note for incoming ministers, Joan MacNaughton, the director-general of energy policy at the new Department of Productivity, Energy and Industry, warns that key policy targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and boost green energy are likely to fail, and that decisions on new nuclear power stations must be taken urgently. It advises that 'it is generally easier to push ahead on controversial issues early in a new parliament'.

The document points to the key role new nuclear power stations, which do not emit carbon dioxide, would play in tackling carbon emissions. It states: 'We now have 12 nuclear stations providing 20 per cent of our electricity carbon-free. By 2020 this will fall to three stations and 7 per cent as stations are retired.'

It also points to the increased risk of an electricity supply shortage after 2008, when a number of nuclear plants are due to close, and warns of a growing reliance on imported gas supplies.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,1479279,00.html

[nannah]

1. acceptance of nuclear depends on sense of "crisis"

hence the motive for keeping oil peaking news from the public.... Had there been enough lead time, conservation, and creative thinking we would be having an energy evolution rather than an energy crisis.

apparently i am having a deeply cynical sunday morning.

on edit: unlike solar, wind, and geothermal, nuclear energy uses the same constant customer economic structure; consumers are tied to provider.

solar, wind, and geothermal can be installed at your home and become self perpetuating. no long term customer/supplier relationship.

[Trillo]

4. Keep the people dependent on providers

That's a great point you made on edit.

[AndyTiedye]

2. I Can See Why They Kept That a Secret Until After the Election

:nuke: power is about as popular over there as it is here.

[jpak]

3. If it's such a great plan - why is it a "secret"

and if the British government can spend billions on new nuclear plants (which would be entirely dependent on foreign uranium), why can't they subsidize conservation and renewables at the same level of spending?????

Conservation is and always will be the cheapest way to reduce electricity consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This sounds like a back door deal to keep BNFL, Westinghouse, et al., afloat and in the money....

[DODI]

5. British government owns BNFL.

[jpak]

6. I realize that - and they recently attempted to privatize it.

Unfortunately, I cannot compete on the European (or global) market for its services.

New government subsidized nuclear power plants would justify its continued existence...