Consumers 'will pay nuclear bill'
Electricity bills will have to go up if the government builds a new 
generation of nuclear power stations, the Green Party has warned.

It claims the government is determined to push ahead with nuclear power 
despite evidence it is uneconomic.

The government says it is considering nuclear as part of an energy 
review but has not yet made up its mind.

The report comes as Tony Blair admitted there was a "long way to go" to 
tackle climate change.

'Not pre-ordained'

The government sees new nuclear plants as a "carbon-free" alternative to 
coal and oil - and a more secure source of energy than gas supplied by 
foreign states such as Russia, as North Sea supplies dwindle.

But the DTI insists its current policy review, which is being carried 
out by energy minister Malcolm Wicks is "not a foregone conclusion".

"It is not a bogus review and there isn't a conclusion that is 
pre-ordained," a spokesman told the BBC News Website.

The review is looking at both sides of the argument, he added, including 
the issue of nuclear waste, the costs involved and "public concerns 
around security".

It is also looking at ways of increasing renewable energy sources, 
already the subject of major investment by the government, he added.

But the Green Party says its "alternative energy review" looks at 
measures not being considered by the government.

'Inferior choice'

Green Party principal speaker Caroline Lucas MEP said: "Tony Blair is 
determined to push this country down the nuclear route, based on two 
arguments: guaranteeing affordable energy supply, and reducing carbon 
emissions.

"The Alternative Energy Review proves what anti-nuclear campaigners have 
long suspected - that, even using these criteria, nuclear power is the 
inferior choice.

"It shows that a twin-pronged investment in renewable alternatives and 
energy efficiency and conservation measures will not only deliver 
greater emissions reductions than nuclear power, it will deliver them 
more cheaply, and all without the huge safety risks inherent in the 
nuclear option."

The co-author of the Green Party report, Dr David Toke, said talk of a 
looming energy gap as North Sea oil runs out had been exaggerated and 
ministers had been swayed by the powerful and well-funded nuclear lobby.

'Stand-by'

He said there should be a centrally-organised programme of "demand 
reduction" - forcing companies to cut their use of electricity use 
through better efficiency.

Far more wind farms should also be built, he argued, and electronics 
companies should be fined if they did not scrap the "stand-by" button on 
computers and televisions, which he said was a major drain on energy 
supplies.

All of these measures meant consumers would pay less for their 
electricity, even if it meant possible increases in costs associated 
with energy efficiency, he told reporters.

"Do people want to pay more for nuclear power that will increase their 
bills, or do they want to pay for energy efficiencies that will reduce 
their bills?," he asked.

The Lib Dems have also attacked nuclear power for being uneconomic.

The Conservatives are currently reviewing their energy policy. Zac 
Goldsmith, deputy chair of the party's environment policy review, due to 
report in 18 months time, is strongly opposed to it.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Blair acknowledged there was still a "long way to 
go" to tackle climate change and pledged to work hard with other 
European leaders to extend the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) beyond 2012.

He said the ETS must be more robust and he hoped there would be 
agreement on a range of new measures to increase energy efficiency.

He made his pledge as he met green umbrella group "Stop Climate Chaos" 
in Downing Street.

The government's advisory body on the environment, the Sustainable 
Development Commission, is due to release its advice on nuclear power on 
Monday, following a year-long investigation.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk_politics/4759298.stm

Published: 2006/02/28 17:06:18 GMT

© BBC MMVI