Nuclear wants same aid as green power

May 29 2009 By Andrew Mernin

THE ORGANISATION championing development of the nuclear energy supply chain in the North East has backed a call for government to put the sector on an equal financial footing with its power rivals.

This week, French-owned EDF, which bought Hartlepool’s nuclear generator in a takeover of British Energy, said its multi-billion-pound investment in new build would grind to a halt unless it had parity with the green energy sector.

“EDF Energy has always said that it is not looking for government subsidies for new nuclear build in the UK. This remains the case,” the company said. But it criticised the current emissions trading system whereby polluters pay and non-emitting power sources benefit.