A Green MEP for the south west region, including Burnham-On-Sea, has this week called for the UK to abandon its nuclear power programme in the wake of a new report on the status of the global nuclear industry.
Molly Scott Cato says the World Nuclear Industry Status Report states that genuinely renewable non-nuclear options would save more carbon per pound and can out-compete nuclear economically.
She says that the report found 165 GW of renewables were added to the world’s power grids in 2018 compared to just 9 GW of nuclear operating capacity and that the cost of new nuclear power has increased by 23% over the last decade, while the costs of solar and wind have fallen by 88% and 69% respectively.
Molly, a long-term critic of Hinkley Point C, said: “This is evidence, if more were needed, that the future both in terms of tackling the climate emergency and keeping energy bills down is renewable energy, not nuclear.”
“The government should abandon the nuclear option and switch to an all-out drive for renewable energy options.”
“In particular, we need a big push for new on and offshore wind generation, which can come on line quicker and at lower cost than nuclear.”
“In the South West that means powering millions of homes through resurrecting schemes like the Atlantic Array off the north Devon coast and Navitus Bay off the Dorset coast.”
“As a region we have the potential to generate at least 100% of our energy needs from renewables alone. We just need the political will to make it happen.”
Molly was re-elected as a Green MEP for the South West, including Burnham-On-Sea, earlier this year and is one of 74 Green/EFA MEPs in the European Parliament. She is also the Green Party’s speaker on Finance and Brexit.
