"But Bernard Jenkin, the shadow Energy minister, insisted the question
of whether to build new nuclear reactors should be an economic, not a
political decision. "It's for investors and generators to decide if
nuclear power is the most effective way of generating electricity and
reducing CO_2 . Ministers should avoid either pre-empting their own
review or promoting one technology over the other."
DTI minister backs nuclear new-build
By Tim Webb
Published: 13 November 2005
Building a new fleet of nuclear reactors is a "no brainer", according to
a government minister with responsibility for global energy and climate
change.
Conservative politicians said the Government risked pre-empting its
energy review, which will begin soon and will consider how to replace
Britain's ageing nuclear reactors. The Government claims it is keeping
an open mind over how to maintain a secure supply of energy while at the
same time meeting targets on cutting CO_2 emissions.
The comments from Ian Pearson, the minister for trade with a brief on
energy issues, are the most explicit expression of support for nuclear
power from a senior Labour figure. Nuclear power is virtually carbon free.
"My personal view is that we ought to look at a limited new-build
nuclear programme, probably based around existing sites," he said. "That
strikes me as pretty much a no-brainer. To meet our future
climate-change targets, it is the right thing to do, and in terms of the
energy mix." He conceded that "there are a whole series of concerns you
have to get right" over nuclear energy, for example how to safely store
radioactive waste.
Mr Pearson stressed that the Government had not made a decision on the
outcome of the energy review. "The Government view is that we will be
conducting a review and looking at all the options. Alan Johnson [the
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry] has said we have got a
completely open mind on it."
But Bernard Jenkin, the shadow Energy minister, insisted the question of
whether to build new nuclear reactors should be an economic, not a
political decision. "It's for investors and generators to decide if
nuclear power is the most effective way of generating electricity and
reducing CO_2 . Ministers should avoid either pre-empting their own
review or promoting one technology over the other."
The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, which is responsible for
recommending to the Government, next summer, how to store the 470,000
cubic metres of nuclear waste in the UK, will hold a public briefing on
Thursday.
Building a new fleet of nuclear reactors is a "no brainer", according to
a government minister with responsibility for global energy and climate
change.
Conservative politicians said the Government risked pre-empting its
energy review, which will begin soon and will consider how to replace
Britain's ageing nuclear reactors. The Government claims it is keeping
an open mind over how to maintain a secure supply of energy while at the
same time meeting targets on cutting CO_2 emissions.
The comments from Ian Pearson, the minister for trade with a brief on
energy issues, are the most explicit expression of support for nuclear
power from a senior Labour figure. Nuclear power is virtually carbon free.
"My personal view is that we ought to look at a limited new-build
nuclear programme, probably based around existing sites," he said. "That
strikes me as pretty much a no-brainer. To meet our future
climate-change targets, it is the right thing to do, and in terms of the
energy mix." He conceded that "there are a whole series of concerns you
have to get right" over nuclear energy, for example how to safely store
radioactive waste.
Mr Pearson stressed that the Government had not made a decision on the
outcome of the energy review. "The Government view is that we will be
conducting a review and looking at all the options. Alan Johnson [the
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry] has said we have got a
completely open mind on it."
But Bernard Jenkin, the shadow Energy minister, insisted the question of
whether to build new nuclear reactors should be an economic, not a
political decision. "It's for investors and generators to decide if
nuclear power is the most effective way of generating electricity and
reducing CO_2 . Ministers should avoid either pre-empting their own
review or promoting one technology over the other."
The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, which is responsible for
recommending to the Government, next summer, how to store the 470,000
cubic metres of nuclear waste in the UK, will hold a public briefing on
Thursday.
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