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From: Angela Kelly [mailto:angelakelly@btinternet.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 10:19 AM
To: Angela Kelly
Subject: AK RR WARNING!!! POWER CUTS FEARED AS SCOTLAND GOES GREEN LOUISE
HOSIE 09:00 -Press & Journal 12 January 2004
Importance: High

RR

Press & Journal

POWER CUTS FEARED AS SCOTLAND GOES GREEN

LOUISE HOSIE
09:00 - 12 January 2004

The Scottish Executive was last night urged to think again over its
timetable for switching to renewable energy amid dire warnings of massive
price rises and power failures.
The move to green energy could lead to consumers' electricity bills rising
by over 60%, according to a warning circulated to Scots politicians.

And former UK Energy Minister Brian Wilson warned of frequent blackouts as
the system struggles to cope with demand.

Four power stations that generate half of Scotland's electricity are due to
be decommissioned by 2010. The executive has yet to announce what will
replace them, but is committed to producing 40% of energy from renewable
sources.

Now concern has been raised that customers may have to foot the
£1.75billion bill for upgrading the National Grid in Scotland so it can
take power from wind and wave farms.

In a briefing document to MPs and MSPs, British Nuclear Fuels warned that
prices could rise by up to 63% by 2010.

North-east Tory list MSP David Davidson said last night that he felt the
executive had not considered all the options.

"There is a bit of a scandal going on in that there are no figures being
published about how much money is going into wind turbines," he said.

"Wind turbines cannot produce electricity at a sustainable price, they have
a huge subsidy, and quite frankly they are not going to deliver, no matter
what the executive says.

"If there is no wind and the Government is determined to produce 40% of
energy from renewable sources then they might have to shut down the supply
to some houses."
He added: "If we are going to hold to the Kyoto agreement we have to
reinstate two of the nuclear power sites. We would be far better off
putting money into sub-sea turbine research and other forms which are more
efficient and effective."

Mr Davidson urged that the Hunterston and Torness nuclear power stations
remain open.

"The staff are there, the jobs are there and the stations already comply
with regulations by not releasing carbon dioxide," he said.

North-east SNP MSP Richard Lochhead said: "It beggars belief that anyone is
even remotely suggesting massive hikes for Scottish householders when
Scotland is a major energy producer and on the brink of a renewable energy
revolution.

"Scotland already subsidises the rest of the UK and of all the countries in
the world that should have cheap electricity it should be top of the list."

Aberdeen North SNP MSP Brian Adam had "significant doubts" about the
figures being produced, but said: "The truth is we are all going to have to
pay for the decommissioning for many generations.

"If that does not appear directly on bills, it is because the Government
makes us pay through taxes."

He said there were higher costs associated with nuclear generation than
other means.

The British Nuclear Fuels document said: "The Scottish Executive has set
itself an extremely ambitious target for future energy supply.

"It is clear that the cost of failure will not merely be a loss of faith in
the ministers, but will likely result in blackouts and huge rises in
electricity bills.

"It is therefore vital the executive outlines soon whether it remains on
course for its renew-able target and how it intends to replace the four
stations that will cease generation by the end of the decade."

Meanwhile, Mr Wilson, Labour MP for Cunninghame North, attacked Scottish
ministers for pushing ahead with the decommissioning of conventional energy
sources without having a tried and tested alternative in place first.

He said it was inevitable that electricity prices would rise as the switch
to green power was made, and that power cuts would increase as the new
system struggled to cope.

"I am sure that prices will rise. It is very difficult to put a figure on
it because there are so many variables," he said.

"The more reduction there is in surplus capacity then obviously the greater
the risk to security of supply and in exceptional conditions we could
certainly see power cuts.

"It is foolhardy to talk glibly about running down nuclear until you are
confident about what is going to take its place. It is double foolhardy to
get rid of our only major source of carbon-free electricity."

Mr Wilson wants the nuclear power stations at Hunterston, in Ayrshire, and
Torness, in East Lothian, to be given a stay of execution. Ministers are
committed to closing both as part of the executive's green policy.

Yesterday the executive tried to play down fears of steep rises in bills
and power blackouts.

Pointing out that the 40% target for renewable power was reached in
consultation with the energy industry, Deputy Enter-prise Minister Lewis
Macdonald said: "We are committed to increasing the use of renewable energy
and ensuring that Scotland's economy and environment each benefit from
doing so."