Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has stated that nuclear power stations will not be built in Northern Ireland. Speaking just before the release of the British Government's Energy Review which confirmed a new nuclear energy programme, Mr Hain said "there are no plans to build any nuclear power stations in Northern Ireland -that is a view I have taken as Secretary of State. That means we have to go very strongly and progressively for green, clean, renewable energy."
This standpoint will please environmental campaigners, who have become angered by Tony Blair's switch towards nuclear power as a means to meet UK targets for fighting global warming and ensuring energy security. Nuclear currently meets 20% of the UK's energy needs, however this will change when all the existing plants are decommissioned by 2023.
