Q. So what has the UK Government decided?
A. After a second public consultation - the first one was deemed "seriously flawed" following a court challenge by Greenpeace - it has gone nuclear.
Q. What is the justification?
A. Over the next 20 years or so, the current generation of 10 nuclear stations will close. Given that across the UK nuclear provides around 19% of our energy and in Scotland - depending on which side of the argument you believe - around 40% or under 10%, then the lights could start going out or we could become even more dependent on foreign sources of power from countries such as Russia as North Sea oil runs down unless the energy gap is filled by Britain itself.
Q. So why nuclear?
A. John Hutton, Westminster's Business Secretary, yesterday sold nuclear to MPs, insisting it was a "tried and tested, safe and secure form of low carbon technology". He argued it would also help to meet the UK's carbon reduction targets. The Secretary of State noted how every new nuclear power station would save the same amount of carbon that was emitted from one million households. The lifecycle emissions from nuclear were only between 2% and 6% of those from gas for every unit of electricity generated.
Q. What do the opponents say?
A. Nuclear is costly and leaves a waste legacy that remains dangerous for thousands of years. There is always the risk of an accident and there is the terrorist threat.
Q. So what is the alternative?
A. Renewables. Wind, wave and solar power as well as clean carbon technology. The UK Government has already announced a major expansion of windfarms, including the world's largest, the London Array Offshore, which when up and running will produce 1% of Britain's energy needs. But in 2005 wind represented just under 1% of all energy supplied.
Q. So where will the new stations be built?
A. This is where the issue of Scotland comes in, or doesn't. The UK Government will establish a Strategic Siting Assessment, which will complete its work by 2009. It is expected that the new stations will, for political and commercial reasons, be built on current sites. However, now that the anti-nuclear SNP is running the Scottish Government, there will be no new plants north of the border. This is because Holyrood and not Westminster is the planning authority in Scotland.
Q. What about the cost of more nuclear power stations?
A. While Mr Hutton insisted a new generation was "affordable", needless to say opponents disagree. They insist that the clean-up bill for the current generation of reactors could reach £70bn. Ministers say that, other than a national emergency, the operators will foot the bill.
While they also claim there will be no taxpayer subsidy and operators will pay their "full share" of the costs, critics believe consumers will pay higher bills as companies pass on the costs.
Q. What about all the nuclear waste?
A. The UK Government insists it can continue to be stored at temporary facilities in Cumbria until a suitable hole can be found. However, it is convinced that "geological disposal" is the right way forward.
Q. So when will the new plants be built?
A. Mr Hutton said analysts suggested as early as 2017 but he hoped it would at least be "well before 2020".
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