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| UK to embrace nuclear - Miliband | UK to embrace nuclear - Miliband |
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| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Nuclear is a safe, low-carbon option to help tackle climate change, he said. | Nuclear is a safe, low-carbon option to help tackle climate change, he said. |
| The Conservatives warned people would not be consulted while pressure groups said nuclear was "not the answer". | The Conservatives warned people would not be consulted while pressure groups said nuclear was "not the answer". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Low-carbon mix' | 'Low-carbon mix' |
| 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. | 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. |
| They hope the first of a new generation of stations can come on stream as early as 2017. | They hope the first of a new generation of stations can come on stream as early as 2017. |
| 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 href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8346190.stm">Dounreay 50th anniversary marked href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7212&edition=2">Send us your comments | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | 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 say they are concerned that people will be largely excluded from the decision-making process. | While backing nuclear expansion, the Conservatives say they are concerned that people will be largely excluded from the decision-making process. |
| They are calling for a vote in Parliament on the issue to give "legitimacy" and for ministers, not "unelected officials", to make the final decision on where the plants are built. | They are calling for a vote in Parliament on the issue to give "legitimacy" and for ministers, not "unelected officials", to make the final decision on where the plants are built. |
| "It is right to have a streamlined planning process but it should have democratic accountability," shadow energy and climate change secretary Greg Clark said. | "It is right to have a streamlined planning process but it should have democratic accountability," shadow energy and climate change secretary Greg Clark said. |
| 'Lethal legacy' | 'Lethal legacy' |
| "If you take out accountability, then it is going to make people resistant to change." | "If you take out accountability, then it is going to make people resistant to change." |
| Liberal Democrat energy and climate change spokesman Simon Hughes said: "A new generation of nuclear power stations will be a colossal mistake regardless of where they are built. | Liberal Democrat energy and climate change spokesman Simon Hughes said: "A new generation of nuclear power stations will be a colossal mistake regardless of where they are built. |
| "New plants in the UK have never been built without massive cost to the taxpayer and a lethal legacy of toxic waste. | "New plants in the UK have never been built without massive cost to the taxpayer and a lethal legacy of toxic waste. |
| "Plans to sweep aside the remnants of local accountability in the planning system expose a government ready to override all objections as to where new sites will be built." | "Plans to sweep aside the remnants of local accountability in the planning system expose a government ready to override all objections as to where new sites will be built." |
| But Mr Miliband said people would have more opportunities to make their views known than under the current system. | But Mr Miliband said 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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' | '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. | 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. |
| 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." | "And building new plants would divert precious resources from developing safe renewable power." |
| 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." |
| 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. | 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. |