UK reveals plans for 10 new nuclear sites
Monday, 9 November 2009 21:57
The UK government has announced plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain needed to limit gas imports and that nuclear was a proven reliable source of low carbon energy.
One of the ten planned locations for new nuclear power stations is the existing Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria.
With many of Britain's nuclear power stations reaching the end of their working lives the British government last year lifted a moratorium on building new nuclear plants.
Ten potential sites for a new generation of nuclear power stations were announced today. They include existing sites like Sellafield in Cumbria.
Other sites on Britain's western seaboard include Heysham in Lancashire and Hinkely Point in Somerset.
Changes in British law mean these new projects will be fast tracked through the planning process.
The first of them could be generating electricity by 2017.
Environmental groups say the Britain should forget about clean coal and nuclear technologies and invest in renewable energy like wind power.
However the British government says nuclear must be part of its energy mix if it is to ensure energy security and to meet its climate change commitments.
- Nine News: Brian O'Connell, London Editor, reports that the UK government is planning a new generation of nuclear power stations, seven of them on Britain's west coast
- Six One News: Brian O'Connell, London Editor, reports that the UK government is planning a new generation of nuclear power stations, seven of them on Britain's west coast
