Welsh Labour and Plaid conspiracy of silence welcomes nuclear power to Wales
In the lead up to the Wales Green Party Conference in Swansea this Saturday the Wales Green Party Leader Jake Griffiths has criticized Welsh Labour and Plaid over their tacit support for nuclear power, and failure to back a green nuclear free Wales. This follows Ed Miliband's announcement of ten proposed new nuclear power stations with one in Wales at Wylfa.
Jake Griffiths, Wales Green Party Leader and Cardiff West Election candidate said: "The Welsh Assembly Government silence over the proposed nuclear power station at Wylfa is deafening. This is further evidence of a Labour party in Wales that despite claims of 'clear red water' does not dare stand up to London in the interests of Wales. It is also another instance where Plaid has failed to stand up to Labour in contradiction of its own policy, already broken by leader Ieuan Wyn Jones in the interests of political expediency. Both parties have one eye on safeguarding their Assembly and Parliamentary seats on Anglesey rather than the long term economic and environmental well-being of Wales."
"Assembly reports have shown that Wales could produce more electricity than it consumes from renewable sources if the right policies and investment where put in place. Support for nuclear power diverts investment away from the development of green technologies which could create 50,000 jobs in Wales."
He continued "If there is one industry which illustrates a lack of local accountability and scrutiny it is the nuclear industry with its strong links with the nuclear defense industry. The Government is proposing to bypass the planning process to fast track nuclear power stations through the National Infrastructure Commission which is bad news for democracy and for the environment."
"A key democratic right is for the public to have a say on how their area is developed. Decision-making about where we get our energy from, and the long-term costs associated with nuclear, should be opened up to more accountability, not less."
"We need to win people over to the idea of a future of low carbon jobs and safe, renewable energy. Imposing decisions, whether on new nuclear or on-shore wind, through a Infrastructure Planning Commission, is the wrong way to make public policy."
"We need safe renewable power, coupled with a nationwide push for energy efficiency, not Ed Miliband's idea of new nuclear power stations. The government still has no solution for the massive amount of yearly high-level waste that ten new nuclear power stations will produce (200 tonnes per year). Such waste will cost tens of billions of pounds a year to manage, money that could go towards clean and renewable energy."
"We don't need nuclear or new coal plants. With energy efficiency, and proven technologies such as wind, solar and combined heat and power, we can meet Britain's energy needs, create hundreds of thousands of green jobs and slash emissions."
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For further information contact Jake Griffiths on 07752754537 on cantongreens@hotmail.co.uk.
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