Anger Over Support for Nuclear Power

Anger Over Support for Nuclear Power

Dec 27 - Scotsman, The

ALLAN Wilson, the Executive's minister for renewable energy, sparked anger yesterday when he gave his support to the principle of building new nuclear power stations in Scotland.

Mr Wilson said it was wrong to reject the idea of nuclear power stations at a time when there was a growing movement against gas power stations, because of the damage they do to the environment. The minister did not say he definitely wanted to see more nuclear plants in Scotland but suggested a proper debate had to take place and that an expansion of nuclear energy might be inevitable.

Mr Wilson's remarks were immediately condemned by the SNP. A spokesman said there was absolutely no justification for any expansion of nuclear energy because Scotland was "the Saudi Arabia of renewables", insisting there was so much potential in wind and wave power that nuclear plants were not necessary.

No-one from the Scottish Liberal Democrats was available for comment yesterday, but the minister's remarks will cause most unhappiness among that party in particular. The junior coalition partners do not want to see any more nuclear power stations in Scotland and they will be alarmed by the idea of a Scottish Executive minister appearing to lay the ground for such a development.

Mr Wilson, in an article in a Sunday newspaper, said: "Does it make sense, at the very time when climate change and greenhouse gas reduction have shot up the political agenda, to be planning the total elimination of nuclear power? Many environmentalists have decided that it most definitely does not make sense to head in that direction."

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