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April 16, 2006
Environmental Audit Committee – sheds light on sustainable energy future
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has concluded that new nuclear stations will be of little or no short-term use in filling an anticipated electricity 'generation gap' in Britain, and crucial questions of security, cost and effectiveness remain unanswered. The committee raise concerns over the risk of terrorist attacks, but also focus on the full costs of nuclear generation, such as the disposal of waste and decommissioning. [1] It says the economic viability of new nuclear plants has not been proved. [2]
The report, entitled "Keeping the lights on", said the answer lay in building many more gas-powered electricity plants and boosting production from sources of renewable energy like wind and waves. "Over the next 10 years, nuclear power cannot contribute either to the need for more generating capacity or to carbon reductions as it simply could not be built in time," the report said. [3]
The select committee report even questioned the need for the present Energy Review. It concludes: “We remain convinced that the vision contained in the [2003] white paper – with its focus on energy efficiency and renewables as the cornerstones of a sustainable energy policy – remains correct" [4]
[1] Guardian 14th April 2006
[2] FT 15th April 2006
[3] Reuters, 16th April 2006
[4] The Business 16th April 2006
Environmental Audit Committee Report “Keeping the Lights on”
Posted by peter at April 16, 2006 06:13 PM