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Nuclear fast-track plan awaited UK to embrace nuclear - Miliband
(7 minutes later)
Plans for fast-tracking a new generation of nuclear power stations are to be announced by the government. Ed Miliband has said the UK cannot afford to "say no" to nuclear power as he prepares to announce plans to fast-track a new generation of reactors.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband will unveil statements of policy including a list of sites judged suitable for nuclear developments. The energy secretary will give details of a list of sites judged suitable for new developments and say how planning reforms will speed up the process.
Changes to planning laws would let the Infrastructure Planning Commission hurry through new schemes if it rules they comply with the policy statements. Nuclear is a safe, low-carbon option to help tackle climate change, he said.
But Friends of the Earth warned that nuclear power was "not the answer". The Conservatives warned people would not be consulted while pressure groups said nuclear was "not the answer".
'Legal challenge' In a series of statements on energy policy, Mr Miliband will outline proposed sites for new plants, the bulk of which are expected to be near to existing sites.
Ministers hope the reforms will avoid battles such as the six-year struggle to steer the Sizewell B power station through the planning process. He will also explain how changes to planning laws will let the new Infrastructure Planning Commission - which will have the final say over where the plants are located - hurry through schemes which comply.
It is thought they will encourage companies such as E.ON, RWE npower and EDF to produce a new generations of UK power stations as early as 2017. 'Low-carbon mix'
We don't need coal or nuclear Robin OakleyGreenpeace class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8346190.stm">Dounreay 50th anniversary marked Last year the government decided to go ahead with a new generation of nuclear plants to replace the UK's ageing nuclear infrastructure - most of which will be decommissioned by 2023.
But environmentalists warn people will not be able to influence decisions on major projects because schemes covered by the statements will not be subject to a public inquiry. They hope the first of a new generation of stations can come on stream as early as 2017.
They also argue that the government could be open to legal challenge if its statements do not give enough weight to climate change. When you look at the challenge of climate change, it is right to consider all the low-carbon alternatives Ed MilibandEnergy and Climate Change Secretary class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8346190.stm">Dounreay 50th anniversary marked
Ministers hope the planning reforms, which will mean future schemes will not be subject to a public inquiry, will avoid battles such as the six-year struggle to get the Sizewell B power station approved.
Mr Miliband said the UK needed to get a "move on" with putting in place its future energy infrastructure, which he says must include nuclear alongside renewables, clean coal and gas.
"When you look at the challenge of climate change, it is right to consider all the low-carbon alternatives. Nuclear is a low-carbon alternative which, in my view, is safe and secure," he told the BBC.
He said he understood people were "historically suspicious" of nuclear power but said: "There is no evidence that people's fears are grounded."
While backing nuclear expansion, the Conservatives are concerned that people will be largely excluded from the decision-making process and are calling for a vote in Parliament on the issue to give "legitimacy".
"The trouble with the way the government is doing it, it has no democratic component," said shadow energy secretary Greg Clark.
"The statements will just be read out to MPs without a vote and the decisions will be taken by an unelected, unaccountable official."
Mr Miliband rejected this criticism, saying people would have more opportunities to make their views known than under the current system.
Developers will have to consult local residents about their plans and people will be able to lobby the planning Commission before final decisions are made, he said.
Most people living close to power plants were "enthusiastic" about them and the developments would create jobs, Mr Miliband added.
But plans for new plants in Scotland, to replace existing facilities at Torness and Hunterston, are opposed by the SNP government.
While nuclear power remains a reserved issue for Westminster, planning issues are devolved and UK ministers indicated in 2006 that the Scottish government would be able to veto proposed plants.
'Deadly legacy'
But environmentalists argue that the government could be open to legal challenge if its statements do not give enough weight to climate change.
Friends of the Earth executive director Andy Atkins said the fight against climate change should be at the "core" of all government decisions.Friends of the Earth executive director Andy Atkins said the fight against climate change should be at the "core" of all government decisions.
We don't need coal or nuclear, because proven green technologies such as wind and combined heat and power stations can secure Britain's energy needs Robin Oakley, Greenpeace
But he warned: "Nuclear power leaves a deadly legacy of radioactive waste that remains highly dangerous for tens of thousands of years and costs tens of billions of pounds to manage.But he warned: "Nuclear power leaves a deadly legacy of radioactive waste that remains highly dangerous for tens of thousands of years and costs tens of billions of pounds to manage.
"And building new plants would divert precious resources from developing safe renewable power, while doing little to bring about the urgent emissions reductions that are desperately needed within the next decade.""And building new plants would divert precious resources from developing safe renewable power, while doing little to bring about the urgent emissions reductions that are desperately needed within the next decade."
Robin Oakley, head of Greenpeace's climate and energy campaign, said nuclear power was a "dangerous and expensive irrelevance".Robin Oakley, head of Greenpeace's climate and energy campaign, said nuclear power was a "dangerous and expensive irrelevance".
He added: "We don't need coal or nuclear, because proven green technologies such as wind and combined heat and power stations can secure Britain's energy needs, create green jobs and slash our emissions."He added: "We don't need coal or nuclear, because proven green technologies such as wind and combined heat and power stations can secure Britain's energy needs, create green jobs and slash our emissions."
'Huge challenge' In his statement, Mr Miliband will also set out a framework for clean coal "carbon capture and storage" technology as well as updates on renewables and fossil fuels.
However, ministers insist companies will have to work closely with local regions and demonstrate they have consulted widely before they can gain approval.
Mr Miliband said the transition to a low-carbon economy would be a "huge challenge".
He added: "We now need to move on to getting the actions in place to make it happen.
"That is why the national policy statements and Infrastructure Planning Commission are important, because the truth is that we are not going to be able to deliver a 21st Century energy system with a 20th Century planning system."
The statements are expected to refer to the limits of fossil fuels and the threat of climate change while calling for nuclear power stations.
Mr Miliband will also set out a framework for clean coal "carbon capture and storage" technology.
Alongside nuclear power, the government will issue draft policy statements on the need for a new energy infrastructure which includes fossil fuels and renewable sources, as well as an overarching energy statement.