Nuclear Power Stations, and Woking leads the way!

Dear Carbon-Cutter,

Following some discussion on Wednesday about how Abingdon could reduce our carbon footprint (maybe by generating power from the Thames?) I thought you might be interested in the article below, especially the info about Woking!


A book we have mentioned before at Carbon Cutters meetings, "Sustainable Energy without the Hot Air" by David MacKay, is at http://www.withouthotair.com, and gives several scenarios for covering UK's energy requirement, not all of which include nuclear power. It's worth looking at the 10-page synopsis which is available on the website and very clear. We plan to get a couple of copies for our Eco-library for those who don't fancy reading the whole book on-line!
Sally


Sizewell Nuclear Power Stations-‘3 times a nuisance!’

The government has announced that Sizewell is one of the sites nominated for a new nuclear power station, Sizewell activists head to court and a demonstration against new build at Sizewell is planned.
What a week!

Tomorrow ( Friday 17th , 10 am) the group calling themselves the ‘Sizewell Blockaders’ Rebecca Dale 33 from Bungay, Mell Harrison 37 from Geldeston, Nicola Stikles 39 from Saxmundham, Irene Willis 60 from Essex and Pete Lux 44 from Beccles, are again appearing at Lowestoft magistrates court for taking direct action against the what they say are ‘unlawful activities’ at the nuclear power stations at Sizewell in Suffolk. The group are hoping to have restrictions on their right to protest lifted so that they can attend the two-day demonstration and camp planned for 25th and 26th April. The reason for the planned demonstration is two fold- one to commemorate all those who died and are still affected by the radioactive fallout from the disaster at Chernobyl and two- because the government has announced that sizewell has been nominated as a site for not one, but two new nuclear reactors.
Local campaigners are concerned about this choice. Mell Harrison , who works for Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and lives in Suffolk said, “The flood risks of the sizewell coast are clear, the maps given with the site nominations show just how high risk it is. 10 years of waste are in a fuel pond at the site now- it seems very irresponsible to build here,” she continued “ everyone knows the risks involved with nuclear power but we are being told it is a necessary evil to bridge the energy gap- this is not true. Models such as the Borough of Woking show just how decentralisation of energy supplies can work, not just at delivering energy but cutting CO2 emissions too’
Woking Borough has a population of 100,000 and has the largest domestic combined photovoltaic/ combined heat and power (CHP) in the UK and is home to the UK’s first small –scale combined heat and power/heat fired chiller system. Woking borough council have developed these projects, with Allan Jones at the forefront, through its public/private joint energy service company- Thamesway Energy Ltd, again the first of its kind in the UK .The council is now recognised as the most energy efficient local authority in the UK having
achieved-
* Over 80% CO2 cuts
* 51% reduction in energy consumption
* 44% reduction water consumption

More Info:

Woking –

Sizewell new build nomination, including flood map-

Sizewell Blockaders


Mell Harrison 07760161755 08453370282 www.easterncnduk.org