Responding to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd's (BNFL) announcement today that they plan to shut two of Britain's oldest nuclear power stations Greenpeace called on the government to back proposals for local offshore wind farms to replace them.
The closure of Chapelcross in Dumfries has been brought forward to no later than March 2005 and a similar nuclear plant, Calder Hall, at BNFL's Sellafield complex in Cumbria is to close three years early in 2003.
Proposals for offshore wind farms close to the ageing power stations are already being developed. Applications have been made to the Crown Estate to build offshore wind farms in Barrow, Shell Flat, Southport and Solway Firth in the Irish Sea. Approval has been given by Crown Estates but go-ahead is dependant on a decision by the Department of Trade and Industry in coming months.
Emma Gibson, Greenpeace Energy campaigner said
"If given the go-ahead by government these proposed offshore wind farms could more than replace the electricity generated from the Chapelcross and Calderhall reactors. They can be built quickly and would provide cheap, clean electricity, without the risk of nuclear accidents and without producing radioactive waste".
"Britain's offshore wind resource is enormous and just waiting to be harnessed. With government backing this area of Britain alone could generated a significant proportion of Britain's energy needs.
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Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255
