Letter: Failing the test

I READ with much interest Neil Craig's letter (14 October) accusing the Nuclear Free Local Authorities and Scottish Renewables of overstating the case for wind energy in favour of that "cheaper" energy commodity, nuclear power.

I am delighted my initial letter to The Scotsman has provoked such passionate debate, as our future energy supplies and security is a matter of much importance.

What Neil Craig and other fans of nuclear fail to mention is all the extra costs nuclear power incurs - the radioactive waste and decommissioning legacy is more than 80 billion and growing, then there is the 40-50bn it will cost to build a deep underground waste repository, and the insurance costs liabilities in the event of a major accident will fall again on the humble Scottish taxpayer.

If nuclear power is so cheap and attractive, why has a major project by EDF to build new reactors in the United States dramatically collapsed, despite the offer of a generous public subsidy? What about the huge cost overruns at the only nuclear reactors being built currently in Europe - in Finland and in France? As the esteemed nuclear economist Professor Steve Thomas has detailed, there are real issues about the commercial viability, safety and construction of both proposed new nuclear reactor designs.

We have scarce resources and value for money is vitally important, but in terms of the financial costs of new nuclear, in terms of safety, and in terms of the huge costs of waste management and nuclear decommissioning, it fails time and time again.

(CLLR) EUAN MCLEOD

Convener, Nuclear Free Local Authorities Scotland

Glasgow City Chambers