PLEASE FORWARD TO THOSE WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY,
ENERGY EFFICIENCY ETC
Some important information for anyone who knows about the capacity of
renewable energy etc. You can contribute to the energy review by going
to http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review/
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: NUKES_NGOS: Malcolm Wicks yesterday
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 11:46:19 +0000
From: Germana Canzi <[log in to unmask]>
Organization: Friends of the Earth
To: [log in to unmask]
References: <[log in to unmask]>
Dear all,
I had a chat with Malcolm Wicks yesterday at the Energy Review
consultation launch. I may be wrong, but I did get the impression that
he could potentially still be convinced, despite being under huge
pressure. He is certainly very keen on energy efficiency and
decentralised power, although he does not seem to understand that in
order to achieve efficiency you need mandatory product standards and
regulation and not just behavioural change in the public.
The main problem on the supply side, he told me, is that he wants _us_
environmentalists to prove that we will have enough baseload generation
if we phase out the nuclear power stations. I think we all need to
address this in our submissions to the review and in our communications
with the DTI, as the burden of proof appears to have shifted to us
rather than the nuclear industry.
Cheers
Germana
Jean McSorley wrote:
> Folks
>
> Wicks line on new build and no hurdles re. financing absolutely mimics
> what the industry (and some investors) were claiming at last year's
> World Nuclear Association Meeting -
>
> http://www.world-nuclear.org/sym/2005/pdf/InvestmentSession.pdf
>
>
>
> The main difference is the industry guys laid out a whole range of
> conditions - like changing the licensing, market intervention, govt
> support - I would recommend people read it, especially what the US
> speaker had to say
>
>
>
> cheers
>
>
>
> Jean
>
> -----Original Message-----
> *From:* [log in to unmask]
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]*On Behalf Of *Andrea Kaszewski
> *Sent:* 23 January 2006 09:14
> *To:* [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* Re: NUKES_NGOS: Next generation of nuclear reactors may
> befast tracked
>
> Dear All,
>
> also please see the article in the Guardian today on M.WIcks....
> neutral ?
>
> Andrea
>
> http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,1692580,00.html
>
> The energy minister, Malcolm Wicks, believes there are virtually
> no practical obstacles to a new generation of nuclear power
> stations being built - although he is adamant no decision has yet
> been made on whether to give them the go-ahead.
> In an interview with the Guardian before today's launch of a
> consultation period on the government's energy review, he brushed
> aside potential hindrances and emphasised atomic power's role in
> tackling greenhouse gas emissions. He said: *·* It was "dead
> wrong" to think that a financial framework could not be found to
> encourage private-sector participation,
>
> *·* A lot of "major companies" were willing to invest in atomic
> power,
>
> *·* Pre-licensing of power station designs could speed up planning
> inquiries,
>
> *·* Ways to dispose of nuclear waste were available, and the
> government and private sector could "share" the cost.
>
> The minister insisted he remained "nuclear neutral" and prefaced
> many statements with the phrase "if we go down the nuclear route",
> but the broad thrust of his comments will greatly encourage the
> atomic industry and frustrate critics.
>
>
>
> >>> Chris Keene <[log in to unmask]> 01/22/06 2:57 pm >>>
>
>
> Next generation of nuclear reactors may be fast tracked
>
> David Adam, environment correspondent
> Saturday January 21, 2006
> The Guardian
>
> The nuclear industry is pushing ministers to approve sweeping
> changes to
> the way atomic power stations are approved in an attempt to
> fast-track a
> new generation of reactors.
>
> Documents obtained under freedom of information laws show that
> British
> Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) wants to restrict the scope of local planning
> inquiries. Instead it proposes effectively discussing issues such as
> safety, security and environmental impact behind closed doors.
>
> The move comes as the government is to launch a review of its energy
> policies on Monday, which is widely expected to recommend restarting
> Britain's controversial civil nuclear programme.
>
> Article continues
> In the documents, BNFL warns that the only way to guarantee new power
> stations open on schedule is to fast-track the planning process by
> pre-licensing reactors before sites are selected. It says:
> "Investment
> in this phase has immense leverage over subsequent phases. For
> example,
> it should enable a public inquiry to be assured that all safety and
> environmental issues have been satisfactorily addressed, enabling
> it to
> focus on local issues."
>
> Existing regulations require these issues to be discussed at local
> public inquiries set up into the siting of individual nuclear power
> stations. BNFL is worried this will cause severe delays; the public
> inquiry into Sizewell B in Suffolk lasted six years. The document
> says:
> "Inadequate preparation could extend the programme from 10 years
> to up
> to 16 years."
>
> Nuclear power has risen towards the top of the political agenda as
> ministers and officials scramble to address an impending energy
> crisis.
> Britain's existing nuclear power stations supply about 20% of UK
> electricity and all but one are scheduled to close by 2023.
>
> Prominent figures such as Sir David King, the government's chief
> scientific adviser, have said replacing them is the only realistic
> way
> to satisfy growing energy demand while meeting demanding
> greenhouse gas
> targets. Uncertainties about the security of future gas supplies,
> especially after this month's crisis in Ukraine, have also helped to
> convince Tony Blair and senior figures at the Department for Trade
> and
> Industry that new nuclear power stations are needed.
>
> Anti-nuclear campaigners claimed BNFL's proposed changes to the
> planning
> and consent process would allow the nuclear industry to steamroller
> local opposition. Jean McSorley of Greenpeace, which obtained the
> documents, said: "The process would be closed to public input, which
> means issues that local authorities and the public would expect to be
> examined at a public inquiry would be dealt with behind closed doors."
>
> Hugh Richards, head of the Welsh Anti Nuclear Alliance, said:
> "Pre-licensing is a trojan horse. It sounds innocent but the
> objective
> is clear. It would shield consideration of nuclear safety from public
> scrutiny and that is extremely worrying."
>
> BNFL said: "We are committed to an open and transparent process. The
> pre-licensing process ensures that national issues are discussed at a
> national level and local issues discussed at a local level."
>
> A poll carried out by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change
> Research and
> Mori showed 54% of people would accept the building of nuclear
> stations
> if it helped to tackle climate change. But 72% said this should
> only be
> considered as a last resort.
>
> ++++++++++++General
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>
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>
--
Germana Canzi
Senior Climate Change Campaigner
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood Street
London N1 7JQ
UK
+44(0)20 7566 1672 (direct tel)
+44(0)20 7490 1555 (switchboard)
+44(0)20 7490 0881 (fax)
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skype: germanac
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