The Labour Minister acknowledges that new nuclear plants won’t happen in Scotland due to government opposition, impacting energy plans.
Edinburgh: So, it looks like Scotland won’t be getting any new nuclear power stations. The UK Energy Minister, Michael Shanks, spilled the beans on this during a session at Holyrood. He mentioned that the SNP Government is firmly against it, and they have the power to block any plans.
Shanks was there discussing the Labour Government’s new initiative, GB Energy, which will be based in Aberdeen. This company aims to lead the charge in clean energy. It’s a big deal, but without nuclear, the energy mix will look different.
Many Labour leaders and union folks believe nuclear should be part of the energy solution, especially as we move away from fossil fuels. But with the SNP’s strong stance, it seems nuclear is off the table for now.
Shanks admitted that GB Energy won’t be pushing for new nuclear plants, given the current political climate. He thinks nuclear could create jobs and has potential, especially with small modular reactors. But the planning rules in Scotland make it impossible right now.
He pointed out that the Scottish Government has made it clear: no new nuclear plants will be built. While he disagrees with that stance, he respects the rules they’ve set. It’s all about playing by the book, and GB Energy has to follow the regulations in each part of the UK.
