Early Day Motion 2204
22nd May
That this House believes that the argument for new nuclear build in the UK has not been made;
notes that even with an accelerated planning system, new nuclear power stations could not contribute either to plugging the `energy gap' or to carbon reductions by 2020 when existing electricity generating capacity is run down and carbon emissions have to be curbed;
further notes that existing electricity generation is provided by 40% gas, 33% coal, 19% nuclear and 4% renewables, that massive investment in new infrastructure is providing for a diversity of gas supply from many countries including Norway, with Russian gas only around one per cent. and that new clean coal technologies are now available;
also notes that the supply of wind power is growing faster than predicted, and that in Germany wind power capacity is already equivalent to UK nuclear capacity;
further believes that new nuclear build would be inconsistent with environmental sustainability, adding to the legacy of highly toxic nuclear waste and the huge public cost of decommissioning and storage;
urges the Government to see the bigger picture in which electricity accounts for just 18% of total energy consumed and energy use by sector was last recorded as 36% transport, 30% domestic, 21% industry and 13% other;
and further urges the Government to recognise the enormous potential for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by energy efficiency and conservation, greater use of combined heat and power, and rapid investment in the full range of renewable technologies, including microgeneration.