Hinkley C nuclear go-ahead: May caves in to pressure from France and China - The Ecologist

Hinkley is a project from a dying era, which would saddle Britons with eye-watering costs for decades, and radioactive waste for millenia. Renewables, smart grids and energy storage are the fleet-footed mammals racing past this stumbling nuclear dinosaur.

The French and the Chinese may be celebrating the UK's decision to press ahead with the Hinkley C 'nuclear white elephant', writes Oliver Tickell. But the deal is a disaster for the UK, committing us to overpriced power for decades to come, and to a dirty, dangerous, insecure dead end technology. Just one silver lining: major economic, legal and technical hurdles mean it still may never be built.

The UK's energy department, BEIS, today announced the go-ahead for the controversial Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power plant in Somerset.

Only weeks ago Theresa May's government delayed the signing of the deal with EDF to confirm its subsidy package which is likely to cost UK energy users anywhere from £30 billion to over £100 billion for 35 years after it opens...

more: Hinkley C nuclear go-ahead: May caves in to pressure from France and China - The Ecologist

whats up: #BustTheMyth – nukes are NOT carbon-free, clean, safe, green, or affordable!

New #petition: Stop #Hinkley nuclear plant and spend the money on renewable instead | Greenpeace UK

Hinkley nuclear plant has suffered a further blow. The finance director for EDF, the French energy firm that plans to build the nuclear reactor, has resigned amid rumours that going ahead with the new nuclear plant could leave the company in ruins.

For almost a decade, Hinkley nuclear plant has suffered delay after delay. It's a project that is not only stands to suck up huge amounts of cash, it's directing valuable time and resources away from where the UK should be investing -- renewable energy and energy efficiency.

That's why we've launched a new petition calling on George Osborne to do what he should have done years ago and scrap the project. Here's the email I just sent out to Greenpeace's list.

Hi there,

George Osborne could be about to make a huge mistake.

He's preparing to spend billions on a new nuclear plant at Hinkley in Somerset. If it goes ahead, Hinkley is set to be the most expensive object on Earth [1] – sucking up huge amounts of money that could be spent on renewable energy instead.

But right now we’ve got a chance to stop him. The finance director of EDF -- the energy firm that plans to build the reactor -- just resigned amid concerns that Hinkley could plunge the company into a financial black hole.

It’s going to be pretty embarrassing for George Osborne if he ploughs on when Hinkley’s cost could bankrupt the company building it. So let's seize this moment to turn up the pressure on the chancellor. Let's tell him now’s the time to scrap Hinkley -- and spend consumers’ cash on renewable energy instead.

Sign the petition:
https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/stop-hinkley

If George Osborne pushes ahead, Hinkley will be the first nuclear plant built in the UK in two decades. But the chancellor's plans are going nowhere fast. The reactor design is so complicated that no one's sure if it will even work. One nuclear expert went so far as to call it "unconstructable" [2]. And three other power stations -- in France, Finland and China -- that are trying to use the same type of reactor are suffering from huge delays too.

The cost of the project is staggering. Best guesses say Hinkley could pass £24 billion -- easily making it the most expensive power station in world history.

Personally I'm shocked that George 'Austerity' Osborne can keep on backing Hinkley, even as the cost keeps going up and up. Can you help tell him that thousands of us think that backing renewable energy is a better use of our cash? Sign the petition here:
https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/stop-hinkley

While Hinkley nuclear plant has spent almost a decade in limbo, renewable power projects have been far quicker to build. The London Array -- the world's biggest offshore wind farm -- took less than three years to construct. And even if building Hinkley was to begin tomorrow, by the time it's up and running the cost of renewable energy will have dropped even further.

Though George Osborne might tell us we need Hinkley to keep the lights on, we know this is far from the truth. Recent research showed that as soon as 2030, the UK could be powered almost entirely by renewables [3]. The UK is one of the windiest places in Europe, we’ve got huge untapped potential in solar power, and we're surrounded by sea too. If you agree that natural sources of energy like these should top government investment, not more risky and expensive nuclear power, please sign the petition now:
https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/stop-hinkley

Thanks for being involved,

Richard Casson
Greenpeace UK

NOTES
1. http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2014/12/why-is-britain-building-the-most-expensive-object-ever/
2. http://energydesk.greenpeace.org/2014/11/20/comment-trouble-hinkleys-reactor-design/
3. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/replace-coal-power-without-trashing-planet-20151124

New petition: Stop Hinkley nuclear plant and spend the money on renewable instead | Greenpeace UK

3.19 Taunton, Somerset, UK: Public Meeting – Radioactive Waste In Somerset

Will EDF and the government turn Hinkley into a high level waste storage facility for 160 years and beyond? Who knows about Nuclear Waste?

The next campaign meetings are on Mondays February 16th
and March 16th. at West Bow House, Milton Place off West Street, Bridgwater TA6 3RT 
at 7pm [NB earlier start] 
The meetings are held on the third Monday of the month. All members are very welcome to attend.
The Stop Hinkley social meeting have been stopped for the time being.

Stop Hinkley –

stophinkley.org | EVENTS

12 JUNE; Bristol, UK: WITCH WATCH - Full moon gathering at Hinkley Point | Stop Hinkley

"for as long as it takes"

new facebook page -

https://www.facebook.com/witchwatchatHinkleyPoint



Witch Watch is a 24hour vigil - sometimes longer - held on the night of the Full Moon when she is still waxing. WW evolved to defend Mother Earth as part of the Stop Hinkley C campaign and the proposed new build of nuclear power stations in Britain.

The camp glimmers in the hedgerow of the last lay-by, on the main road into the power station, near Bridgwater, Somerset. All are welcome to join us but the camp is women only after daylight hours.
WW provides a meeting place to make connection, share information and to bring your magic. A Sacred Fire is lit and tended through the night.

Witch Watch bears on-site witness and observation of the destruction and construction that is taking place, and holds a positive intention for a different future and the need for balance in the world. Best to ring 07874 819 608 before you come to check for last minute change of plans.

For more info ring 07874 819608 or email.



STOP HINKLEY  #stophinkley
http://stophinkley.org/

http://stophinkley.org/Events.htm


Southwest AgainstNuclear
https://www.facebook.com/SouthWestAgainstNuclear

2.14 SOMERSET UK: WITCH WATCH Full Moon Vigil :: #stophinkley

Witch Watch is a 24hour vigil - sometimes longer - held on the night of the Full Moon when she is still waxing. WW evolved to defend Mother Earth as part of the Stop Hinkley C campaign and the proposed new build of nuclear power stations in Britain.

The camp glimmers in the hedgerow of the last lay-by, on the main road into the power station, near Bridgwater, Somerset. All are welcome to join us but the camp is women only after daylight hours.

WW provides a meeting place to make connection, share information and to bring your magic. A Sacred Fire is lit and tended through the night.

Witch Watch bears on-site witness and observation of the destruction and construction that is taking place, and holds a positive intention for a different future and the need for balance in the world.

The next date is Monday 16th December. Best to ring 07874 819 608 before you come to check for last minute change of plans.

For more info ring 07874 819608 or email.

facebook.com/events/695439247167953/

http://stophinkley.org/Events.htm

1.15 UK: WITCH WATCH FULL MOON VIGIL AT #HINKLEY POINT

Witch Watch is a 24hour vigil - sometimes longer - held on the night of the Full Moon when she is still waxing. WW evolved to defend Mother Earth as part of the Stop Hinkley C campaign and the proposed new build of nuclear power stations in Britain.

The camp glimmers in the hedgerow of the last lay-by, on the main road into the power station, near Bridgwater, Somerset. All are welcome to join us but the camp is women only after daylight hours.
WW provides a meeting place to make connection, share information and to bring your magic. A Sacred Fire is lit and tended through the night.

Witch Watch bears on-site witness and observation of the destruction and construction that is taking place, and holds a positive intention for a different future and the need for balance in the world.
The next date is Monday 16th December. Best to ring 07874 819 608 before you come to check for last minute change of plans.

For more info ring 07874 819608 or email.

"I can be a little minimalist, so for those of ye who haven't read about WW before, here's a little background. Making connection where they split the building blocks of life, WW has had a peaceful, for life and anti nuclear presence in the last lay-by, just before the gates of Hinkley Point, on every full moon since June 2012. With sacred fire, and a combination of prayers, positive intention and meditation, folk bring whatever beliefs or points of view have meaning to them. We gather, share food, have fun and usually stroll to the gates at some point for a performance, ceremony or the like. Often Pixies Mound is visited, a pre historic burial mound that sits by the existing B site. Visitors are very welcome but we ask that the camp is women only over night."

https://www.facebook.com/events/252212378272451/

http://stophinkley.org/Events.htm

11.16 UK: WITCH WATCH FULL MOON VIGIL | Stop Hinkley

4PM ONWARDS. Come and make connection where they split the building blocks of life... Visitors and dry wood welcome... Women only overnight Ring 07874819608 Follow the 'Hinkley Point' Deliveries' signs...

Witch Watch is a 24hour vigil - sometimes longer - held on the night of the Full Moon when she is still waxing. WW evolved to defend Mother Earth as part of the Stop Hinkley C campaign and the proposed new build of nuclear power stations in Britain.

WW provides a meeting place to make connection, share information and to bring your magic. A Sacred Fire is lit and tended through the night.

The camp glimmers in the hedgerow of the last lay-by, on the main road into the power station, near Bridgwater, Somerset. All are welcome to join us but the camp is women only after daylight hours.

Witch Watch bears on-site witness and observation of the destruction and construction that is taking place, and holds a positive intention for a different future and the need for balance in the world.

The remaining 2013 dates are: Saturday 16th November and Monday 16th December. Best to ring before you come to check for last minute change of plans.

For more info ring 07874 819608 or click here to email.

(facebook) WITCH WATCH FULL MOON VIGIL

Stop Hinkley