WWF laments energy gap ‘spin’

Conservation group WWF has lent its weight to the criticism directed at the Government over the recent Energy Review, calling announcements over an energy gap ‘fantastic spin’, designed to usher in new nuclear energy facilities. The group also called the new generation of nuclear power stations a ‘red herring’ that would divert resources away from renewable development and uptake.

"The idea that we are facing an enormous energy gap which only nuclear power can fill has been has been a fantastic piece of spin. The Government's own Energy Paper released just three years ago showed that we could meet our energy needs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions through increasing and diversifying the use of renewable energy and reducing energy waste," commented Keith Allott, WWF-UK's Head of Climate Change.

The nuclear issue, although widely expected, has become the most contentious area of the Energy Review, leading to some environmental commentators calling the process a ‘farce’.

"Even if you put aside the waste issue and the terrorist risk, new nuclear power should be ruled out on economic grounds alone. Nuclear power is nothing but a costly red herring and it will be the taxpayers who end up covering the costs of an uneconomic industry," added Mr. Allott.