UK asks for citizens' opinions on nuclear energy
The UK government has launched a consultation intended to provide guidance on whether the hunt for clean and sustainable sources of energy should encompass nuclear technology. According to UK Trade Secretary Alan Johnson, a White Paper on energy published in 2003 'rightly' focused on boosting renewable energy and energy efficiency, but left the door 'ajar' on the nuclear question. In response to suggestions that the government has already decided to expand the UK's nuclear network, Mr Johnson said that the Health and Safety Executive, while examining the safety, cost and suitability of existing nuclear plants, is also looking into the viability of other ways to generate power, such as wind turbines, gas transport and storage and carbon capture and storage. Mr Johnson told the BBC that by 2020, coal and nuclear sites currently generating 30 per cent of the UK's electricity will have closed. Environmental groups have spoken out against the nuclear option, with the executive director of Friends of the Earth calling instead for the UK to meet its energy needs by cutting waste, harnessing the power of renewables and using fossil fuels more efficiently. The Engineering Employers Federation on the other hand has emphasised that the speed with which a solution is found is paramount, and that the government must consider all options, including nuclear power.
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