Green Options » john hutton

Hutton Calls for Rapid Deployment of Indispensible Nuclear Plants to Keep UK Lights On

Rod Adams — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:13:09 +0000

The United Kingdom’s energy supply situation has changed dramatically since 2003, when a UK government report titled Our Energy Future - Creating a Low Carbon Economy concluded that it was not necessary to build new nuclear power plants.

Specifically, that paper stated:

“This white paper does not contain specific proposals for building new nuclear power stations. However we do not rule out the possibility that at some point in the future new nuclear build might be necessary if we are to meet our carbon targets.”

The report authors probably did not expect that “point in the future” to arrive quite as quickly as it has. After much public consultation, a new white paper was issued in January 2008 that determined that new nuclear plant construction had to begin - quickly.

Lots More Nuclear Power - Good Thing or Bad Thing?

Mark Seall — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:05:10 +0000

Nuclear power – an abundant source of carbon free energy, or a dangerous and expensive power source with huge risks to our health and environment?

Britain may not have much choice in this matter as its government seems determined to take the nuclear route in an effort to bring Co2 emissions in line with its reduction pledges and mitigate its dwindling North Sea oil and gas supplies.

Announcing plans to enter into a technology partnership with France, the UK government proposes replacing its 24 aging reactors - which currently provide 20% of the nation’s electricity - with a new set of nuclear power plants which will double Britain’s nuclear power generating capacity. In doing so, Britain hopes to become a “world leader in nuclear technology”, according to Energy Secretary John Hutton.