UKIP: Backing for nuclear power and clean coal

Blog Bot · 06-10-2007, 11:40 AM

From the official website:

The UK Independence Party says more use should be made of nuclear power and clean coal to provide secure and affordable energy supplies and safeguard the British economy. The policy was unveiled at the party's annual conference in London.

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Anthony Butcher · 06-10-2007, 11:53 AM

Full text:

Quote:

The UK Independence Party says more use should be made of nuclear power and clean coal to provide secure and affordable energy supplies and safeguard the British economy. The policy was unveiled at the party's annual conference in London.
In one of 17 new policy papers to be published soon, UKIP proposes an increase in nuclear power generation to provide 50% or more of our growing electricity needs within 10-15 years. UKIP would allow acceleration of the planning process by Acts of Parliament where new reactors replaced old reactors on the same sites.

The party also supports the efficient extraction and use of indigenous coal using new technology such as the clean coal power generation plant.

On the environment, UKIP's paper says the party has a common-sense stance:

"UK Independence believes that global warming is a recognisable phenomenon, but that there is insufficient proof that this is generated by carbon emissions. The over-reaction by other parties to global warming borders on the hysterical and risks damaging Britain’s economy and its people’s way of life."

It is strongly opposed to "green taxes" masquerading as beneficial to the environment when the primary aim is to raise revenues for the Exchequer. Many green claims are myths, it says.

However, UKIP is clear about the need to reduce pollution in general and to conserve and enhance the natural environment.

Other key points from the Energy and Environment paper:

Reduce the use of gas for electricity generation and use gas primarily for heating only.

Require any further schemes of large-scale wind generation to be funded by the market and limit large-scale wind farms to offshore only and where not in conflict with important fishing grounds. UKIP will work on the basis that renewables will not supply more than minor energy needs in future.

Facilitate the design and implementation of an efficient nationwide water supply grid based on existing canals and new water pipelines between the north and south of Britain.

Encourage the reduction of waste, the reuse of materials and proven methods of recycling and introduce a "litter deposit" on recycleable goods to reduce litter. Examine a German-style "green dot" system under which manufacturers have to take back goods after use for recycling or appropriate disposal.

Support technologies and practice to improve energy conservation and efficiency.

Encourage the development and use of renewable energy sources other than wind generators, such as wave power.
Reduce bureaucracy and EU-driven heavy fines in environmental and related areas to the minimum consistent with good practice and international standards.

Popeye · 06-10-2007, 11:57 AM

Looks like good, sensible stuff. If the Eurosceptic parties could just unite on a consensus and push forward the many policies they have in common the future could yet be saved. It won't happen of course because none of the respective leaders will be willing to give way.

Anthony Butcher · 06-10-2007, 12:17 PM

This seems a very practical and sound set of policies on the face of it. It will be interesting to see if they have managed to do the proper funding and impact assessments, but I think that the general ideas presented are good.

With regard to Climate Change, it isn't how I would have worded it.

Quote:

The over-reaction by other parties to global warming borders on the hysterical and risks damaging Britain’s economy and its people’s way of life.

Well, that's only true if they are wrong, isn't it? If they are right then their reaction has been an under-reaction if anything.

No party is going to win friends by taking such an aggressive anti-environmental stance. This is somewhat mollified later by the statement "UKIP is clear about the need to reduce pollution in general and to conserve and enhance the natural environment", but this doesn't really undo the previous attack on global warming measures.

I think that it would be far more sensible to say that the evidence is inconclusive, but we should therefore err on the side of caution until such time as the scientific community can provide irrefutable proof one way or the other. Promoting nuclear power is already a strong anti-pollution measure, so they are half way there to being seen as a "green" party anyway. Why blow it like this? Or is the aim to cause as much media stir as possible for the publicity?

Are we actually going to see these policy papers at some point? Do they even exist beyond the headlines? Still nothing on the manifestos page:
UK Independence Party - Manifestos

06-10-2007, 11:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
Blog Bot Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,371	UKIP: Backing for nuclear power and clean coal From the official website: The UK Independence Party says more use should be made of nuclear power and clean coal to provide secure and affordable energy supplies and safeguard the British economy. The policy was unveiled at the party's annual conference in London. More...

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06-10-2007, 11:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
Popeye Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 193	Looks like good, sensible stuff. If the Eurosceptic parties could just unite on a consensus and push forward the many policies they have in common the future could yet be saved. It won't happen of course because none of the respective leaders will be willing to give way.