Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, Brian Leishman has expressed his concern for plans to build new small nuclear reactors in Scotland.
Andy Burnham has proposed to host nuclear plants in areas such as Torness, Hunterson, and Dounreay. He said the plans will fix the energy market, focusing on local energy sources.
On 14 October, Leishman expressed his opposition to the plans.
Leishman stressed the damaging effects of nuclear energy on the environment: “nuclear power generation produces up to 20 times more CO2 per megawatt-hour than renewable sources,” and highlighted that the plans would cost £32b, which is expected to increase with inflation.
He ended with a reminder: “politicians say that the UK will likely be at war with Russia by 2030,” and that nuclear reactors “would surely make communities a target.”
The SNP government in Scotland has long opposed nuclear energy development, and has instead shown their support for renewable energy sources.
The news comes as the Scottish Conservatives announced their proposed plans for nuclear energy, turning back on the SNP’s current energy policies.
During the Conservative Party conference on 5 October, MP Andrew Bowie said he does not want Britain to “miss out on this nuclear renewal” and “no part of Britain will be off limits, including Scotland.”
Local Scottish Greens MSP for Edinburgh Central Lorna Slater told The Student:
“New nuclear power is an expensive distraction from the renewable energy solutions that Scotland already has in abundance.
“The Scottish Greens oppose plans for new reactors because they are costly, slow to deliver, and leave a legacy of radioactive waste, when we should be investing in clean, affordable energy and the jobs of the future.”
Opinions on nuclear energy remain contested among politicians and it is unclear whether Burnham will go ahead with his proposed plans.
Photo by Nicolas HIPPERT on Unsplash.
