Murphy: SNP's ban on new nuclear power stations lacks common sense

Published on Monday 16 February 2009 20:51

THE Scottish Government was yesterday accused of lacking common sense in its decision to block new nuclear power plants, in the latest row between Westminster and Holyrood over future energy supplies.

Jim Murphy, the Scottish Secretary, accused the SNP of having no good reason for banning nuclear power, and claimed that the country would be missing out on billions of pounds of investment and thousands of jobs because of an "ideological" opposition.

However, Alex Salmond, the First Minister, who yesterday opened the new Aberdeen office of a marine renewables firm, described nuclear power as a "busted flush" that was "unnecessary" for Scotland.

Mr Murphy, speaking in Edinburgh at a Public Information Materials Exchange conference about nuclear power, argued that it provided a secure energy supply and benefited the environment by providing green baseload electricity.

He added: "It is a source of regret that such common-sense thinking is not replicated here by the Scottish Government."

Mr Murphy also claimed that Scotland was "yet to hear any convincing energy-based argument against nuclear power generation from the SNP-led Scottish Government".

He added that the idea of Scottish self-reliance without new nuclear was "imaginary".

He made his comments on the day it was announced ten new sites had been earmarked for offshore wind farms around Scotland, which could between them generate more than 6 Gigawatts of electricity.

Mr Salmond praised the potential of marine renewable energy. He added: "In contrast, nuclear power is a busted flush, steadily declining in output to its lowest level in the 21st century as a result of unplanned outages.

"For Scotland, that proves – once again – that nuclear power is unreliable and ultimately unnecessary, with risks and uncertainties in waste disposal and the staggering costs of decommissioning."

A spokesman for the First Minister highlighted the "contrast", saying that while Mr Murphy was addressing "an audience of spin doctors for the nuclear industry", Mr Salmond was opening new offices for a marine renewables company.

"The Scottish Secretary talks about 'common-sense thinking' – it's a pity he doesn't follow his own advice," he said. "What could be more common sense than capitalising on Scotland's vast renewable energy potential, as the Scottish Government is doing, instead of Jim Murphy's blind faith in costly, dirty, dangerous and unreliable nuclear power?" the spokesman said.

WHAT NEXT

THERE are two nuclear power stations in Scotland, Hunterston B and Torness, which are both likely to be shut down within 15 years from now.

The Scottish Government would have to give planning consent for any new nuclear plant in Scotland.

Alex Salmond, the First Minister, has made it clear the Scottish Government would not allow any new stations to be built. Instead he aims to rely on a mix of renewables and "clean" fossil fuel power stations, which are fitted with technology to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions. However, critics say carbon capture and storage technology has not yet been proven.