The British government yesterday approved a new generation of nuclear power stations, describing the move as "compelling" but infuriating environmentalists who are considering a legal challenge.
The new stations are expected to be built with private sector help to ensure the future security of supplies and a balanced energy "mix," amid mounting global concern over long-term oil and gas provision and cost.
"Set against the challenges of climate change and security of supply, the evidence in support of new nuclear power stations is compelling," Business Secretary John Hutton told parliament in a widely expected announcement.
The move, applauded by unions and business leaders, follows calls from the pro-nuclear lobby for an early decision. Most of the 19 reactors at Britain's 10 existing nuclear power stations will close by 2023.
The plants provide 19 percent of Britain's electricity.
But opponents, with strong concerns over waste and safety, question whether atomic energy can help cut carbon emissions and want greater clarity on costs, plus assurances that consumers will not have to pay for eventual decommissioning.
Greenpeace last year won a legal challenge after complaining the government's consultation process was flawed. The group said it was closely studying the re-ordered consultation and had not ruled out fresh action.
The group Friends of the Earth, Britain's third-largest party the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party all want more emphasis on sustainable or renewable energy such as wind, wave and tidal power.
According to government figures, 5 percent of Britain's electricity came from sustainable sources in 2006. The government proposes to increase that to 15 percent by 2015.
Greenpeace executive director John Sauven described yesterday's announcement as "bad news."
"Nuclear power can only deliver a 4 percent cut in emissions some time after 2025, and that's too little too late at too high a price," he said. "We need energy efficiency, cleaner use of fossil fuels, renewables and state of the art decentralized power stations like those in Scandinavia. That's the way to defeat climate change and ensure energy security."
Hutton sought to address those concerns, saying nuclear power had been a "tried and tested, safe and secure form of low-carbon technology" for more than 50 years, and was more efficient and cost-effective than coal-fired stations.
Safety would be the top priority, but he said it would be wrong to set a target for the amount of electricity to be produced by nuclear or any other form of low-carbon energy.
New plants were likely to be built on or near existing sites, he added, but failed to specify an exact number. Recent media reports here have suggested Brown is in favor of 10 new reactors.
He also made no mention of cost. The Guardian newspaper last July said six reactors could cost as much as US$24 billion for six plants.
Hutton said the costs for developing, building, operating the new plants -- which he hoped could be running by 2020 -- and disposing of nuclear waste would be met by energy companies, not the taxpayer.
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