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Ministers hail nuclear decision | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Scottish Government said it was delighted there were no plans in the pipeline to build new nuclear power stations north of the border. | |
On Thursday, minister John Hutton announced that the UK Government was inviting companies to submit plans to build and operate new facilities. | |
Although sites have yet to be identified, Scotland is not expected to feature on a final list. | |
Holyrood ministers said they wanted "clean, green" energy and not nuclear. | |
Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney believed the strength of feeling in Scotland against "unwanted and unnecessary new nuclear power stations" had been felt by Mr Hutton. | |
He added: "The UK Energy Bill provisions on nuclear power do not extend to Scotland - this is a great success for the Scottish Government." | |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that the UK needs a more independent power supply, but critics, including the SNP, have argued that a new generation of new stations would be expensive, dirty and dangerous. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that the UK needs a more independent power supply, but critics, including the SNP, have argued that a new generation of new stations would be expensive, dirty and dangerous. |
The risks and uncertainties of new nuclear power... are obviously far too great John SwinneyFinance Secretary | |
The UK's existing nuclear power stations produce about 20% of the UK's electricity, but most are due to close by 2023. | The UK's existing nuclear power stations produce about 20% of the UK's electricity, but most are due to close by 2023. |
In the Energy Bill it also signalled that there should be greater deployment of renewable energy and increased investment in carbon capture and storage as well as offshore gas infrastructure. | |
Mr Hutton said: "The government believes it is in the public interest that new nuclear power stations should have a role to play in this country's future energy mix alongside other low-carbon sources; that it would be in the public interest to allow energy companies the option of investing in new nuclear power stations; and that the government should take active steps to open up the way to the construction of new nuclear power stations." | |
But, re-stating the Scottish Government's opposition to new nuclear power stations, Mr Swinney insisted that 92% of the energy used north of the border came from non-nuclear sources. | But, re-stating the Scottish Government's opposition to new nuclear power stations, Mr Swinney insisted that 92% of the energy used north of the border came from non-nuclear sources. |
Carbon storage | |
He said: "New statistics show that Scotland in 2006 supplied 92.5% of its energy needs from fossil fuels, renewables and pumped hydro storage. | |
"The risks and uncertainties of new nuclear power, in terms of waste disposal, decommissioning, security and health concerns or cost, are obviously far too great. | |
"The bill is actually a further, strong argument for the full devolution of responsibility for energy, so that we can take the right decisions for the people of Scotland. | |
"For example, it proposes both the UK and Scottish Governments having competence on offshore carbon storage and renewable electricity, which is unnecessarily complicated." |