Nuclear vs Tidal in Somerset

Somerset needs a back-up plan for energy and local economy due to the prediction made by South West Green party candidates about Hinkley Point C upcoming collapse, and Bridgwater tidal lagoon proposal made by Tidal Lagoon Power might just be right solution.

Hinkley Point C project, a proposed 3.2 GW nuclear power plant to be built in Somerset by EDF is deemed for collapse within the next 12 months by South West Green party candidates, according to CheddarValley Gazette, a local news provider.

Tidal Lagoon Power has recently confirmed that early feasibility and engagement work is underway for the Bridgwater tidal lagoon, planned for Bridgwater Bay in Somerset.

“Whether sooner or later, an EDF pullout is now on the cards, and that will leave a black hole in the finance and infrastructure plans of our district, county and national government. Anyone who genuinely cares about the future of Somerset should be working now on an alternative plan for a future that does not include Hinkley C.

“The proposal for an energy generating tidal lagoon at Bridgwater is fantastic news! It is exactly the sort of renewable energy we would like to see in Somerset. It is coming in at a comparable price to Hinkley without the hidden costs of decomissioning, nuclear waste and the GBP 10 million from the Government. It shows that renewables can deliver and the great advantage of the lagoons is that they could mitigate flooding as well, whereas climate change is a threat to Hinkley. It is very welcome news for Somerset. I hope we can rapidly develop a plan which uses the renewable options to create work,” Southwest MEP (Member of the European Parliament), Theo Simon, was quoted as saying by CheddarValley Gazette.

The South West Green party believes that Somerset has unambitious targets set when it comes to producing electricity from renewables.

“The renewable energy job potential in Somerset is calculated at 18,200 skilled jobs, four times as many as Hinkley. These are permanent jobs, not construction jobs. Furthermore, these jobs would be local jobs compared, potentially, to jobs using international workers from China or France,” CheddarValley Gazette quotes spokeswoman for South West MEP Molly Scott-Cato as saying.

A renewables conference ‘From Fukushima to Hinkley: Dismantling the nuclear argument for a sustainable energy’ will be hosted by Green MEP’s on March 5, 2015, in London, and the conference will aim to demonstrate the advantages of renewable over nuclear energy.

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Image: Tidal Lagoon Power