Ritchie criticises nuclear power subsidies

SDLP MP for South Down Margaret Ritchie has criticised reports that the UK government is about to commit to another 40 years of nuclear power subsidies.

Speaking to Newry Times, Ritchie said that the UK government appear to be paving the way for another 40 years of subsidies for ‘dangerous’ nuclear power.

“They may be masking the nature of this subsidy by referring to “contracts of difference” and “strike prices,” but by guaranteeing prices to the industry that are double the market rate for energy, the government will be committing to prop up this failed industry with public money for another generation.

“It is also deeply worrying that they appear to be considering extending this commitment, contrary to previous assurances, until 2050 in what would seem to be a last ditch attempt to woo energy companies.

“With every company but one having pulled out of the nuclear programme, the government is looking increasingly desperate and irresponsible in their efforts to get further investment. Currently half of the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s whole budget goes towards decommissioning, but it seems as if no lessons have been learned.

Ritchie added, “Nobody is naive about the energy requirements for the next fifty years but we need an energy plan that is sustainable and secure. The North of Ireland’s energy future will not be safeguarded by channeling vast amounts of public money away from truly renewable energy sources into nuclear power.”

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=28670

Posted by Newry Times News on Feb 22 2013. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry