NUCLEAR RUSH RISKS SCOTTISH GREEN RENEWABLES INVESTMENT.

NUCLEAR RUSH RISKS SCOTTISH GREEN RENEWABLES INVESTMENT.

GREEN JOBS BOOM FOR SCOTLAND.

SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick today supported the First Minister in his stance against new nuclear power stations in Scotland as he highlighted the potential for funding for renewables and green energy research to be lost in the UK’s rush to nuclear.

Speaking after First Ministers Questions during which Alex Salmond said

"Anything you invest - and it will be billions - in nuclear power is
billions taken away from clean technology and in renewable technology,"

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said;

“With last week’s news that Scotland is to play a key role in developing a north sea super grid and the Scottish Government’s commitment to developing new renewable technology through the £10 million Saltire Prize the unseemly rush to nuclear by the UK Government is completely out of place here.

“The EU has acknowledged Scotland’s renewables potential and is investing in that future. The Scottish Parliament has made clear it does not wish to see new nuclear power stations built in Scotland and several members of the Labour party in Holyrood– including their environment spokesperson have made their opposition known.

“Recent revelations that the nuclear waste from new reactors is seven times more hazardous than that from existing reactors confirms that new nuclear stations would be the wrong way forward for Scotland.

“With more renewable energy projects confirmed in the last eighteen months than in the previous four years and Scotland well on course to meet our target of 31% of electricity from renewable sources by 2011 those who wish to divert funding to nuclear should think again.”