Prospect: Sizewell C
development decision is welcome - we now need an investment
decision ASAP
Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect union Sue Ferns,
responding to the announcement that a Development Consent Order
has been approved for Sizewell C, said:
“This DCO is welcome but long overdue. We now need the government
to bring forward its investment decision as a matter of urgency
so the project can progress.
“The nuclear ambitions set out in the British Energy Security
Strategy are laudable, but they are simply words if they’re not
followed by concrete action.
“Approving the funding for Sizewell C will send a firm signal to
investors that the Government is committed to new nuclear
delivering energy security and taking us to Net Zero.
“This week’s extreme temperatures have shown that we cannot
afford to delay decarbonising our energy supply.”
Greenpeace
In response to the government granting development consent for
the new Sizewell C nuclear power plant, Greenpeace UK’s chief
scientist, Dr Doug Parr, said:
“The contrast between dynamic, cost cutting and innovative
technologies in the renewables sector and the limping behemoths
of new nuclear power could barely be more striking.
“Sizewell C represents all that’s been wrong about energy policy.
A nuclear company, saddled with problems - from failing reactors
to having to be nationalised - is getting a stitched up deal
behind closed doors leading to extra costs on energy bills,
unmanageable waste for future generations and an expensive white
elephant project. That it’s trashing an important nature reserve
is an unwanted bonus.
“Rather than wasting time and money on this red herring energy
solution, the government should throw everything at making
cheaper, cleaner and more reliable renewables the backbone of our
energy system. Whatever else is going on in UK politics at the
moment, there’s no sign of a fresh start here.”