The Thane of Fife had a little meeting this week that reminded me somewhat of “The Scottish Play” in its treachery, and faith in the Nuclear Power Ghost to absolve Carbon stains, rather than the harsh inevitability of true Energy Conservation grit.
Glowing Gordon Brown and E.On-atomic-bright Ed Miliband travelled to the seat of the Scottish Government from the seat of the English Government, seemingly to push the Nuclear button.
There seems to have been some blackmail going on – something along the lines of “If Scotland will not agree to take new Nuclear Power, then Scotland will not receive Energy subsidies”. The exact
details of the unholy consultation may never be known, however as the policy wizards will keep schtum, I guess.
The Government will have to do a lot of the investment in new Energy infrastructure in the next ten years owing to the Recession/Depression. All Governments around the world will have to do this.
There will need to be some “government-business” partnerships in the current “free trade” ideology held by all the major institutions and international organisations.
Scotland might need to become totally “devolved” from the United Kingdom in order to pursue its Renewable Energy bonanza if this kind of Westminster wood keeps being wielded.
https://business.scotsman.com/energyutilities/39Economic-flaws39-in-SNP-opposition.5183659.jp
‘Economic flaws’ in SNP opposition to nuclear power : Published Date: 19 April 2009 : JUST as Gordon Brown was preparing to play host to his old adversary Alex Salmond at the most high-powered dinner party North Queensferry will have witnessed, a long-running disagreement between their respective parties was moving up a gear, writes Rosemary Gallagher. Last Wednesday night, Brown invited Salmond and other Scottish political heavyweights to his Fife home for a soirée with a serious undertone. They came together round the table to share views on how the Scottish economy could be given the boost it badly needs to lead it out of recession. However, the amicable gathering was overshadowed by the ongoing disagreement between the SNP and the UK Government on whether nuclear power has a role to play in guaranteeing the country’s energy supply. The SNP administration’s opposition to building any new nuclear power plants in Scotland is one of its key policies. It wants to focus its attention on helping develop the country’s renewable energy industry. In the other corner, the UK Government last Wednesday released a list of 11 sites in England and Wales where nuclear powers stations could be built. They will stretch from Braystones in Cumbria to Hinkley Point in Somerset to Wylfa in North Wales. On Thursday, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband travelled north of the Border to tell Salmond that he is putting jobs and investment under threat in Scotland by his refusal to budge on his long-standing anti-nuclear power policy…”
“Cross-border row rages over SNP blocking new nuclear power stations : A cross-border row has broken out over Scottish ministers vetoing the Government’s plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations. By Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor : Last Updated: 11:46AM BST 16 Apr 2009 : [ Alex Salmond: Cross-border row rages over SNP blocking new nuclear power stations : The Scottish First Minister, was also warned the lights could go out north of the Border unless electricity generated from nuclear sources is imported from England Photo: PA ] Despite energy matters being reserved to Westminster, SNP ministers have vowed to use their control over planning applications to block any proposals for new atomic plants in Scotland. The Government yesterday published a shortlist of 11 potential sites for new nuclear stations, but were forced to include only England and Wales. Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said it was wrong for Alex Salmond’s administration in Edinburgh to rule out any low-carbon fuels in the battle against global warming. The Scottish First Minister, was also warned the lights could go out north of the Border unless electricity generated from nuclear sources is imported from England. The row broke out as the Cabinet staged its first meeting in Scotland for 88 years, with ministers due to be quizzed by members of the public in Glasgow. There was speculation that civil servants would screen the questions in advance to ensure there is no, or limited, mention of the ‘Smeargate’ scandal. Prior to the question-and-answer session, ministers fanned out across the country to preach the message that Scotland would be an economic ‘basket case’ if it left the UK. Speaking ahead of a visit to Hunterston nuclear power station in Ayrshire, Mr Miliband said constructing two new atomic plants would create 9,000 construction jobs and pump £5.6 billion into the Scottish economy. He said: “Credible solutions to the challenge of climate change require we use the full range of low-carbon fuels. “So for the sake of the planet as well as jobs, I hope the SNP will reverse their opposition to new nuclear power.”
https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8001526.stm
“Page last updated at 08:09 GMT, Thursday, 16 April 2009 09:09 UK : Governments fall out over nuclear : [ Hunterston will not be re-commissioned by the Scottish Government ] Battlelines have been drawn between the UK and Scottish governments over nuclear power. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his ministers have gathered in Glasgow for the cabinet’s first meeting in Scotland for almost 90 years. Energy secretary Ed Miliband told BBC Radio Scotland the Scottish Government’s opposition to new nuclear power stations in Scotland was wrong. But First Minister Alex Salmond said renewable energy was the way forward. Mr Miliband said: “I disagree with the position the Scottish Executive have taken on this. “I don’t think it’s good for Scotland. “There’s a huge number of jobs – it’s 9,000 jobs per nuclear power station with huge benefits for the economy.” Hunterston B will be decommissioned in the middle of the next decade – the decisions made by the Scottish Government mean that site will not be renewed. “I think that’s a shame for Scotland in industrial terms and I don’t think it’s the right decision for the United Kingdom in energy terms, but it does remain a decision for Scotland.” ‘Actual jobs’ : But Mr Salmond said: “As opposed to talking about nuclear jobs which might be years away from construction, decades away from production, in the last few weeks in Scotland we have announced 500 offshore wind jobs in construction. “These are actual jobs which are being created now in technologies which are being deployed now and technologies where Scotland has a huge substantial, natural advantage as opposed to nuclear technologies where Scotland has no advantage whatsoever.” On Wednesday, two south of Scotland MPs hit out at the Scottish Government’s refusal to approve new nuclear plants being built.”