Britain at the energy cross-roads

Publication date: November 2001

Summary
Britain stands at a cross-roads in energy policy. The Government is conducting an energy review, to decide how the UK's energy will be produced over the next 50 years. It is driven by the need to achieve energy security (and not be reliant on foreign oil and gas supplies) and the need to massively reduce discharges of carbon dioxide, which cause global warming. And there are two options: to build more nuclear power stations, or to use renewable energy from the wind, waves and sun.

The decision should be easy. Renewable energy is affordable, safe and clean and the UK has some of the best resources in Europe. Wind power at sea alone could meet our electricity needs three times over and bring thousands of jobs to the UK.

Nuclear power, on the other hand, is expensive, dangerous and produces deadly radioactive waste. And yet, despite the risks, despite the public opposition, despite the UK waste crisis, the government is seriously considering licensing up to 10 more nuclear power stations around the UK, and clearing billions of pounds of BNFL's nuclear waste debt...