Nuclear power ‘a last resort’ for Tories
Nuclear power would be a “last resort” to solve Britain’s energy needs under a Conservative government, David Cameron has said.
The party leader said he had no intention of providing “special favours or subsidies” for nuclear power, insisting there must be a “level playing field” for all types of energy.
His comments come just two days after Tony Blair confirmed he was now in favour of nuclear power as part of a mix of energy in Britain, despite the government’s 2003 energy review dismissing it as an “unattractive option”.
In a speech to the Local Government Association (LGA) today, Mr Cameron said the preliminary results from the Conservatives’ energy review revealed two key priorities – cutting carbon emissions from the creation of electricity, and ensuring security of supply.
But the government must refrain from dictating how this should be accomplished, he said, and instead set out a framework in which industry could develop the “best and most affordable technology”.
This could include setting a limit on the overall amount of carbon dioxide the electricity sector can emit, and allowing generators to buy or sell credits for emissions within this cap, and paying firms to have spare capacity on stand-by.
Mr Cameron also called for government to facilitate a “revolution in green energy” by removing barriers to decentralised and renewable energy.
This could see ministers make it easier for local generators to operate, for example by allowing them to sell spare electricity to the national grid, and improving planning procedures.
Crucially, the Tory leader said: “We want to give green energy a chance. That means no special favours or subsidies for nuclear power.
“Where the government see nuclear power as the first choice, under our framework it would be a last resort. Where the Liberal Democrats rule out nuclear power, we rule out subsidies and special favours for nuclear power.”
However, Lib Dem leader Menzies Campbell dismissed Mr Cameron’s comments, saying that evidence from across the world showed subsidies were the only way new nuclear power stations would ever be built.
“The only serious way to avoid this dangerous environmental legacy is to rule out an extension of nuclear now. It is a great pity that David Cameron is unwilling to do so,” he said.
Trade and industry secretary Alistair Darling also laid into the Conservatives’ plans, saying a “level playing field” could seriously harm the development of renewables, and the government had to actively support new technologies.
“When you aren’t prepared to support low-carbon renewable energy, you’re going to get higher carbon emissions. It’s not that complicated,” he said.
“If Cameron is going to talk green, sooner or later he’s going to have to do something green. Scrapping the climate change levy and undermining renewables moves us further from a green future not towards it.”
