Energy
Debate Can’t Ignore Nuclear – McNeil
MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan
McNeil, says the energy policy debate cannot ignore the possibility of building
of new nuclear power stations.
“Global warming and our
increased reliance on oil and gas imports from unstable countries in central
Asia and the Middle East mean that building new nuclear power stations must be
considered as an option,” he said today.
“They can’t, as some
politicians argue, be dismissed out of hand.
Debating energy policy and ignoring nuclear would be like debating
transport policy and ignoring trains.
“I back the Executive’s bid to increase the proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources to 40%. But the big question is where the remaining 60% of base-load will come from.
“We know that fossil fuel
power stations produce an enormous amount of greenhouse gases – 18 million
tonnes of CO2 in Scotland every year. We
know there are questions about the security of oil and gas supplies.
We must, then, examine making more use of nuclear.
“We can’t run away from
this decision. The retirement of
Cockenzie, Hunterston B and Longannet over the next 10 to 15 years will take
4,646MW out of our generating capacity. That
will take us close to the safe margin for security of supply for Scottish homes
and businesses – and closer to the sort of blackouts seen in California, Italy
and New York.”
ENDS
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