Nuclear Power Decision | "Should Be Swept Aside for Clean Energy"

12.00.00am GMT Fri 11th Jan 2008

The UK government's announcement to build a new generation of nuclear power stations has been criticised as either a "white elephant or a red herring" by a leading member of the National Assembly for Wales.

Michael German AM, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Wales, was speaking after it emerged that Oldbury Nuclear Power Station, just four miles from Chepstow, appeared on a list of potential sites for a new nuclear reactor.

Mr. German attacked the decision to build new nuclear power stations, saying the focus should be on renewable energy sources such as wind power.

"I really had have hoped that we would see the Labour Governments in London and Cardiff put an equal amount of effort into bringing forward plans to capture the tidal power of the river Severn", he said.

Saying that alternatives to nuclear power were evolving practically every day, Mr. German said that nuclear power technology will be overtaken by alternatives by 2020, exactly the date the government sees the first of a number of nuclear reactors to come on stream.

"The Lib Dems have repeatedly said that we need to invest money into cutting energy use, phasing out old style light bulbs, and get going on capturing tidal power around our coasts and on our own doorstep."

Environmental groups say nuclear power is expensive and dangerous. Mr. German added, "Very clearly Nuclear power generation what it isn't the answer to the energy problems we face today."