Warning given on UK Government’s support for nuclear power

One of Scotland’s leading environmental groups has warned support for nuclear power in the UK could undermine the future of the renewable energy industry in Scotland.

The Scottish Government wants to source all of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

However, Ian Marchant, the chief executive of Scottish and Southern Energy, one of Scotland’s largest electricity firms, has said the UK government’s support for nuclear gives it an advantage over other sources of power.

WWF Scotland director Dr Richard Dixon said, “Ian Marchant is absolutely right that the market should not be fixed in favour of nuclear power, especially when this will be at the expense of renewable energy schemes and to the detriment of Scotland.

“Nuclear power is dirty, dangerous and ridiculously expensive and is simply not needed to keep the lights on.”