Now we can light the streets & afford to eat as well
Business secretary John Hutton is to call for a "significant expansion" in Britain's nuclear power industry. In a speech to the Unite trade union, he argues the industry should go beyond replacing its 23 ageing reactors, which provide 20% of the UK's electricity.
He will call for the creation of a £20bn industry with 100,000 new jobs - making the UK "the gateway to a new nuclear renaissance across Europe".
It comes as the President of France - a world nuclear leader - visits the UK.
Mr Sarkozy is due to discuss nuclear cooperation when he meets Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Nuclear energy provides about 79% of France's energy.
Mr Hutton said "I think if we are really serious about our climate change responsibilities, if we want Britain to be as energy-independent as possible - then I think we should be talking about a significant expansion over and above the current contribution that nuclear power makes.
"It's now about 20%. I think it should be significantly more than that, if we are really going to reap the dividend of switching quickly to a proven low-carbon technology like nuclear power."
He added: "I think the technology is proven, not just in terms of producing electricity but in terms of safety as well.
"In terms of waste disposal, I don't think there is an argument about how it should be done - there is an argument about where it should be done."
He will call for the creation of a £20bn industry with 100,000 new jobs - making the UK "the gateway to a new nuclear renaissance across Europe".
It comes as the President of France - a world nuclear leader - visits the UK.
Mr Sarkozy is due to discuss nuclear cooperation when he meets Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Nuclear energy provides about 79% of France's energy.
Mr Hutton said "I think if we are really serious about our climate change responsibilities, if we want Britain to be as energy-independent as possible - then I think we should be talking about a significant expansion over and above the current contribution that nuclear power makes.
"It's now about 20%. I think it should be significantly more than that, if we are really going to reap the dividend of switching quickly to a proven low-carbon technology like nuclear power."
He added: "I think the technology is proven, not just in terms of producing electricity but in terms of safety as well.
"In terms of waste disposal, I don't think there is an argument about how it should be done - there is an argument about where it should be done."
