During the past week there has been substantial coverage concerning the increase of gas and electricity prices, following the announcement by npower of 12.7% increases in electricity prices for domestic customers and by 17.2% in gas bills. The indications are that other energy companies are set to follow suit.
The tragedy is that because of our growing dependence on imported gas we are powerless to alleviate the massive problems these increases will have on the population and, unfortunately, the increases will impact on the most vulnerable - ie, the elderly and the poor.
The response from the SNP encapsulated in your headline ("Scotland doesn't need nor want new nuclear power stations", January 7) is totally irresponsible with regard to the serious issue of energy supply which will affect every man, woman and child within the UK.
The argument for nuclear power, far from being redundant, is strengthened by the decisions taken by npower and other energy companies that will continue to increase prices and claim they have no choice but to compete in the world market for finite sources of energy. Nuclear power is a logical, safe and core source of energy that will reduce our dependence on imports and market fluctuations. At the same time, it will prevent energy companies from arguing that they must increase prices, with the consequences we are experiencing today.
I stop short of accusing the SNP of double standards, but I am concerned that, in Westminster, SNP MPs are calling for the poor to be protected from the latest price increases at the same time as failing to criticise the companies or analyse the reasons for the increases.
This lack of analysis is continued in Edinburgh where the SNP administration is pursuing irresponsible energy policies that inevitably will lead to greater dependence on imported gas and oil, thus allowing energy companies to use the same arguments they are using now for future price increases. Again, I challenge the SNP administration, if it is confident that the Scottish people will reject new nuclear build, to put it to the test.
I do not think that nuclear power is the answer. There are lots of other options. such as wind, solar, wave, and many other green sources for power nuclear power puts many other people at risk. Look at the accident in Japan!
Nuclear power most definitely isn't the answer. The governments planning and usage of power has been wrong for a very long time, and by the looks of things they're just making things worse.
Nuclear power most definitely isn't the answer. The governments planning and usage of power has been wrong for a very long time, and by the looks of things they're just making things worse.
Yeah...politicians do that...alot.
Anyway, interesting discussion. While nuclear power may not be a GOOD answer, it is still a better answer than some. Sure, there's risk with nuclear power, but there's always a risk with anything man meddles in. Would you rather have more coal plants?
Now I'm all for renewable sources of energy, I think we should focus all our resources on that (education and medicine too), but we live in a corporate world. Corporations are going to do what they want, and the government is pretty easily going to side with the big money. Because it all comes down to money, sure oil is running thin, but uranium and all that, well that makes money too. Solar panels? They just cost money.
Now, I know I didn't really address the article per se, but I'm talking just in geral here. And no, I do not support corporate greed and retarded policies.
