Andrew Bowie Failing to Stand Up for North East - 12/3/23

UK GOVERNMENT CRITICISED OVER 'EXPENSIVE AND UNNECESSARY' NUCLEAR STATIONS

SNP Energy spokesperson, Alan Brown MP, has accused Tory MP, Andrew Bowie, of failing to stand up for communities across the North East while prioritising ‘expensive and unnecessary’ nuclear stations over carbon capture storage (CCS) and renewable energy.

In a letter to Bowie, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Mr Brown expressed concerns over updated costs to nuclear station Hinckley Point C - now slated to cost the taxpayers £33 billion, a 40% real terms increase to the original 2016 estimate of £18 billion.

Despite the soaring costs it was revealed earlier this week the UK government has not engaged with EDF over what that means for the delivery of the project, while still pressing ahead for another new station at Sizewell C.

Mr Brown called on the UK government to support Scottish Government efforts to secure a just transition, demanded a Tory U-turn on their snub to the CCS Acorn Project in the North East, and for the Tories to scrap plans to throw another £33bn at Sizewell C.

Commenting, Alan Brown MP said:

“Rather than supporting efforts to herald in a just transition for the tens of thousands reliant on the energy sector in his own patch, Andrew Bowie and his Tory UK government is instead prioritising expensive and unnecessary nuclear stations that won’t even open until at least 2028.

“With his warped priorities he’s failing to stand up for the communities in the North East who won’t benefit from nuclear energy, and have directly suffered from the UK government’s carbon capture snub.

“Scotland is an energy rich nation, and that means it is essential that the UK government match the Scottish Government’s commitment to harness that energy in a clean and renewable way while securing jobs – nothing Bowie is doing supports that.

“The North East CCS Acorn Project will cost a fraction of the £33 billion the Tories now want to commit for Sizewell C – they must reverse their snub of the plant and put money on the table to support North East energy jobs.

“But it’s not just CCS – green hydrogen production, pumped storage hydro, energy efficiency measures and battery storage are just some of the things taxpayers cash would be better focussed on.

“Time and time again the North East has been let down by the Tory UK government, proving beyond a doubt that only with the full powers of independence can we direct the right investment, and put an end to the warped priorities of the Tories.”