Hutton wrong on nuclear

Reacting to today's speech from Business Secretary John Hutton, delivered at a meeting of the Government's Nuclear Development Forum, Greenpeace senior nuclear campaigner Nathan Argent said:

"John Hutton is massively overstating the role that nuclear can play in securing our energy supplies, because the bulk of our energy is used for fuelling our vehicles and heating our homes, where nuclear can't play a role. Rather than cosying up to the nuclear industry, the minister needs to take another look at his figures. According to a recent report by Europe's leading energy experts, if we hit the Government's existing targets on renewables and energy efficiency then there is no need to build a single new nuclear power station. Hutton needs to get on with the job - deliver on renewables and efficiency, and our energy supplies are secure."

NOTES:

A report by Europe's leading energy consultants Poyry illustrates that if the Government hits its legally binding targets on both renewable energy and energy efficiency then the energy gap could be bridged within the next twelve years. See:

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/reports/implications-of-the-uk-meeting-its-2020-renewable-energy-targets

A second report from the same consultancy shows how the installation of combined heat and power (CHP) plants at nine industrial sites around the UK could generate up to 13GW of electricity. 13GW is equivalent to the output of eight nuclear power stations. See:

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/files/pdfs/climate/securingpower0708.pdf

For more information please contact the Greenpeace press office on 0207 865 8255