The Government has outlined its long-term policy on energy generation, following the conclusion of its Energy Review this month, which has revealed a series of varied and controversial proposals. A range of renewables policies were included along with the expected confirmation of a new nuclear energy programme. Under the proposals:
Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said that the proposals, which will be consulted over the coming months, represented "an agenda rather than defined solutions, as it is not possible in 2006 to make all the policy decisions needed up to 2050." However, it is the identification of nuclear as a contributer to future energy production, with figures of 6% by 2020 muted, which has been heavily criticised by environmental campaign groups. Stephen Tindale of Greenpeace claimed, "Tony Blair is fixated with getting new nuclear power stations built, and that means anything substantial in this review that supports green energy will be fatally undermined."
