Thursday, January 07, 2010

Have your say on new nuclear power stations

A consultation on new nuclear power stations is underway.

The potential sites for these are at Bradwell, Braystones, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinkley Point, Kirksanton, Oldbury, Sellafield, Sizewell and Wylfa. Bradwell was nominated by EDF, who are currently seeking to sell the site to a credible nuclear operator.

Under new planning laws which make it harder for people to object, large infrastructure projects (like nuclear power stations, railways, large wind farms, power stations, reservoirs, harbours, airports and sewage treatment works) are subject to generic consultation periods conducted by the new Infrastructure Planning Commission, with individual instances having restricted subjects on which it's possible for locals to comment.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change's consultation on the Energy National Policy Statements ends on the 22nd February, followed by an opportunity for Parliament to comment.

Nuclear power is a step in the wrong direction, sucking capital and engineering know-how into a short-term technology with a terrible long-term legacy of nuclear waste.

Instead support energy efficiency to reduce the demand. Support renewable energy whose fuel is harmless and free and will never run out.

A map of potential sites for new nuclear is here.

Respond to the consultation here.

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