WESTMINSTER PLANNING NUCLEAR POWER GRAB

 

CROWN ESTATE THREAT TO RENEWABLES REVOLUTION

 

SNP Westminster Energy spokesman, Mike Weir MP, has today (Sunday) warned that Westminster appear to be planning an energy power grab following comments from UK Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, John Hutton MP.

 

The UK Government was also revealed this weekend to be making potentially millions of pounds from Scottish renewable energy developments through fees charged by the Crown Estate.

 

Mike Weir MP said:

 

“This is a clear power grab from the Westminster Government and one the SNP will oppose tooth and nail.

 

“The Scottish Government has the right to decide whether there should be new nuclear power stations in Scotland and along with the majority of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament and the support of the Scottish public the SNP Government has made it’s position very clear.

 

“John Hutton is sorely mistaken if he thinks Scotland wants new nuclear power stations.

 

“The SNP wants to see Scotland’s renewable energy potential take off.  Scotland is capable of meeting her energy needs through renewables and new technologies such as clean coal and carbon capture. 

 

Unfortunately as with North Sea oil it seems the UK Government want to exploit Scotland’s natural resources for their own financial gain with the Crown Estate charging ridiculous fees that could restrict development.

 

“Scotland must not miss out again on our offshore entitlement.”

 

“With several senior Labour MSPs opposed to nuclear, including Sarah Boyack, now entrusted by Wendy Alexander with Scottish Labour’s climate change policy, trying to claw back powers over nuclear is not a good place for the UK Labour government to start.

 

“If these are the kind of interventions UK Ministers will be making in Scotland they can only help build support for the SNP.”

 

ENDS

 

Contact SNP Westminster Press: 0207 219 0074

 

Notes:

1.

 

Writing online for the Scotland on Sunday UK Business secretary John Hutton states;
“For energy security to work for every part of the UK, we have to work together. We can't have a pick and mix approach to energy security in different parts of the country.”

 

“Companies from across the world increasingly see new build in the UK as a gateway to the rest of the European market and I want Scotland to be a part of that.”

 

2.

 

A report in the Scottish Sunday Express highlights the charges paid by renewable energy developers to the Crown Estate.

 

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/39621/Chancellor-s-40million-energy-raid

 

3.

 

Sarah Boyack: Tabled two motions supported by other Labour MSPs (One by Marlyn Glen, Maureen Macmillan and Cathy Peattie who also supported another along with Trish Godman, Pauline McNeill and Kate Maclean)

 

S2M-4428 Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab) : The Energy Challenge

 

That the Parliament believes that the argument for new nuclear build in the United Kingdom has not been made; notes that, even with an accelerated planning system, new nuclear power stations could not contribute either to plugging the "energy gap" or to carbon reductions by 2020 when existing electricity generating capacity is run down and carbon emissions have to be curbed; further notes that existing Scottish electricity generation is provided 22% by gas, 26% by coal, 35% by nuclear and 13% by renewables but that around 17% of electricity generated in Scotland is exported; further notes that massive investment in new infrastructure across the UK is providing for a diversity of gas supply from many countries including Norway,
with Russian gas only contributing around 1%, and that new clean coal technologies are now available; also notes that the supply of wind power is growing faster than predicted and that in Germany wind power capacity is already equivalent to UK nuclear capacity; further believes that new nuclear build would be inconsistent with environmental sustainability, adding to the legacy of highly toxic nuclear waste and the huge public cost of decommissioning and storage;
urges the Scottish Executive to see the bigger picture in which electricity accounts for just 19% of total energy consumed in Scotland and carbon emissions by sector were last recorded as 17% transport, 11% domestic, 12% business and 37% energy supply, and further urges
the Executive to recognise the enormous potential for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by energy efficiency and conservation, greater use of combined heat and power and rapid investment in the full range of renewable technologies, including
microgeneration and biomass.

 

Supported by: Mr Brian Adam, Roseanna Cunningham, Marlyn Glen, Christine Grahame, Robin Harper, Mr Adam Ingram, Nora Radcliffe, Mr Mark Ruskell, Tommy Sheridan, Ms Rosemary Byrne, Maureen Macmillan, Chris Ballance, Linda Fabiani, Richard Lochhead, Jean Turner, Rosie Kane, Ms Maureen Watt, Cathy Peattie

 

 

S2M-4061 Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab) :  Nuclear Power in Scotland - That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the Sustainable Development Commission's nuclear review which evaluates the contribution of nuclear power in a low carbon economy; acknowledges the survey for BBC Scotland's Energy Week which found that more than 52% of people prefer renewable energy resources and 51% oppose nuclear power stations being built in Scotland; notes the Scottish Executive's current position that there will be no support
for the further development of nuclear power stations while waste management issues remain unresolved; believes that underground, retrievable, monitored storage is not a long-term or sustainable solution for nuclear waste; supports the conclusion that nuclear power is not the answer to tackling climate change or security of supply, and urges the maximum use of energy efficiency measures, alongside renewable energy and micro-generation capacity, to meet the energy needs of people in Scotland.

 

Supported by: Mr Brian Adam, Bruce Crawford, Marlyn Glen, Trish Godman, Donald Gorrie, Christine Grahame, Robin Harper, Maureen Macmillan, Pauline McNeill, Nora Radcliffe, Iain Smith, Shiona Baird, Ms Rosemary Byrne, Patrick Harvie, Kate Maclean, Eleanor Scott, Tommy Sheridan, Mr Adam Ingram, Cathy Peattie, Chris Ballance, Mike Pringle, Linda Fabiani, Rosie Kane

 

3.

 

Another Shadow Cabinet member, Malcolm Chisholm, said when he was the Scottish Executive Communities Minister on BBC Scotland's The Politics Show (16th July 2006):

"I think the majority of people in Scotland would like to see a mix of non carbon-based energy production, without nuclear, if it can be done." He added: "I personally don't think the case has been made for new nuclear power stations in Scotland."