Positive response to energy bill

Energy companies have delivered an enthusiastic response to the government’s call to bring forward plans to build and operate new nuclear power stations.

The government’s white paper, a response to its nuclear consultation, was published alongside the Energy Bill which sets out a range of measures to address the twin challenges of tackling climate change and securing energy supplies.

Energy secretary John Hutton, said: ‘With a third of our generating capacity coming offline within the next twenty years and increasing reliance on imported energy it is clear we need investment in a range of new energy infrastructure. Measures in the Energy Bill will drive a greater deployment of renewables and enable investment in carbon capture and storage and offshore gas infrastructure. These will help build our energy security, reduce emissions and place the UK at the forefront in the development of low carbon energy technology.’

Commenting on the announcement, Bill Coley, chief executive, British Energy Group said: ‘A balanced policy is the only credible solution for the UK to tackle the energy challenges it faces. Nuclear power is essential to this mix, delivering vast amounts of base-load power with extremely low carbon emissions. It will in the future, as it does today, make a major contribution to helping the UK meet its CO₂ reduction targets.