Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) note that the UK Government’s Energy White Paper gives strong support for new nuclear projects

Posted: 15th January 2021

The UK & Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) note that the UK
Government’s Energy White Paper that came out just before Christmas 2020
gives strong support for new nuclear projects. It was a part of the Prime
Minister’s ‘Ten Point Plan’ and it gives overt support for large
nuclear projects, small modular reactors and even nuclear fusion. The
Energy White Paper has some welcome parts to it, like support for offshore
wind, developing greener buildings, seeking to move to zero emission
vehicles and promoting green public transport. However, NFLA remains
disappointed and continually frustrated over the lack of support given to
onshore wind, solar energy, tidal and marine energy and decentralised
energy in general. So many of the projects put forward are top-down and
support big business far more than they do local communities. In terms of
the support for new nuclear there is a commitment from the UK Government to
get at least one further large nuclear reactor development achieved by the
end of the next Parliament, which presumably means Sizewell C to join with
Hinkley Point C. There is ongoing warm support for small modular reactors
and to create an experimental nuclear fusion reactor, and extensive
lobbying is going on from the nuclear sector to deliver this. The
government have also ignored the comments made by many groups and seek to
suggest that the Revenue Asset Base model may provide the public financing
to support some of this work.

NFLA 14th Jan 2021 

https://www.nuclearpolicy.info/news/despite-uk-governments-strong-support-nuclear-nfla-note-significant-challenges/