Hunterston B Nuclear Power Station Ends Electricity Generation After 46 Years - Amendment
- Submitted by: Kenneth Gibson, Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party.
- Date lodged: Friday, 21 January 2022
- Motion reference: S6M-02738.1
As an amendment to motion S6M-02738 in the name of Paul Sweeney (Hunterston B Nuclear Power Station Ends Electricity Generation After 46 Years), leave out from ", which is understood" to end and insert “and welcomes what it sees as the positive steps that Scotland has taken towards decarbonisation, particularly that 100% of Scotland’s gross electricity demand in 2020 was provided by renewables; understands that the Scottish Government’s nuclear policy is the same as that of the Scottish Labour and Liberal Democrat administration that it succeeded; supports the Scottish Government’s commitment to build an energy system based on renewable onshore and offshore wind, tidal marine, solar and geothermal energy; welcomes what it sees as the confidence that renewable energy suppliers have demonstrated in Scotland’s offshore wind potential through the submission of 74 project bids for the ScotWind auction, 17 of which were successful, with a potential annual energy generating capacity of nearly 25 GW, while Scotland’s estimated need for capacity is understood to be around 5 GW; acknowledges that the auction raised just under £700 million for Scotland’s public finances, and notes reports that the projects are expected to secure at least £1 billion in supply chain investment for every 1 GW of capacity proposed, which, it considers, would constitute a transformational step in Scotland’s green jobs transition for current oil and gas workers and the supply chain; further considers that nuclear fission produces waste that remains a threat to future generations and the planet for tens of thousands of years; believes that it is simply uneconomic to construct new nuclear power stations at this time, as such projects take decades to bring to fruition, with high costs passed on to the consumer via higher energy prices; notes the ongoing construction of Hinkley Point C, following a deal in 2007 between the last UK Labour administration and French company, EDF Energy; recognises that, under the deal, EDF Energy agreed to be paid a UK Government guaranteed “strike price” of £92.50 per MWh, which the current UK Government has reportedly since increased to £106.12; notes analysis that has reportedly shown that these costs will inevitably be passed on to the consumer and that this would be likely to increase household bills, whereas an equivalent offshore wind farm would reportedly lower bills; appreciates reports that the new Hinkley reactor is not due to open until June 2026, 19 years after the deal was signed, with an expected lifetime of 60 years and following estimated construction costs of £23 billion; urges the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets to urgently conduct its review into UK Government transmission charges, which, it considers, disadvantage Scotland’s consumers and economy by resulting in costs that are higher than in any other part of the UK, and awaits with anticipation the publication of the Scottish Government’s draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan in spring 2022.”
Related motion
Hunterston B Nuclear Power Station Ends Electricity Generation After 46 Years
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date lodged: Friday, January 14, 2022
Supported by: Mark Griffin, Martin Whitfield
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Monday, January 1, 0001