9 November 2009
The Government has announced ten sites for additional nuclear power stations, which will be approved using the new planning regime that bypasses normal democratic procedures.
In reponse to Ed Miliband's announcement of the proposed new nuclear power stations, Caroline Lucas, Leader of the Green Party, said:
"Bypassing the planning system in this way - through the National Infrastructure Commission - is bad news for democracy and for the environment.
A key democratic right is for the public to have a say on how their area is developed. Decision-making about where we get our energy from, and the long-term costs associated with nuclear, should be opened up to more accountability, not less.
We need to win people over to the idea of a future of low carbon jobs and safe, renewable energy. Imposing decisions, whether on new nuclear or on-shore wind, through an Infrastructure Planning Commission, is the wrong way to make public policy.
We need safe renewable power, coupled with a nationwide push for energy efficiency, not Ed Miliband's idea of new nuclear power stations. The Government still has no solution for the massive amount of yearly high-level waste that ten new nuclear power stations will produce (200 tonnes per year). Such waste will cost tens of billions of pounds a year to manage, money that could go towards clean and renewable energy.
We don't need nuclear or new coal plants. With energy efficiency, and proven technologies such as wind, solar and combined heat and power, we can meet Britain's energy needs, create hundreds of thousands of green jobs and slash emissions."
Cllr. James Abbott, Co-ordinator of Essex Green Party said
"Today's announcement comes as no surprise. The Labour Government has set up a new planning regime that will ensure that local people and local councils will be largely ignored and decisions will forced through by a remote body that has little interest in the local area. This will suit big business just fine and is further evidence of just how far Labour has drifted from its traditional constituency.
The Greens will use whatever opportunities are open to us to contest the Government's decision and to continue to campaign for the green energy policy that Caroline Lucas has explained today - a policy that would be good for jobs and the environment of Essex."
Donate
Follow us on Twitter
Witham and Braintree Green Party RSS Feed