Horizon deal a ‘vote of confidence’ in UK’s energy future

Hitachi’s bid for the Horizon nuclear project is a “vote of confidence” in the UK’s energy future. That’s the view of the energy industry’s trade body, whose comment follows the […]

Hitachi’s bid for the Horizon nuclear project is a “vote of confidence” in the UK’s energy future.

That’s the view of the energy industry’s trade body, whose comment follows the deal made by the Japanese giant and its plans to build two to three 1300MW nuclear plants at each of Horizon’s sites in the UK.

Angela Knight CBE (pictured), Chief Executive of Energy UK said: “This is very welcome news and demonstrates the benefits in jobs and growth that the UK could see if the right policies and regulations are in place to attract the investment that we need.

There are more than 600,000 jobs linked to the energy sector up and down the UK and with the right investment framework the number of people employed can increase even further. Today’s announcement represents a vote of confidence in the UK’s energy future.”

However, Leila Deen, Greenpeace Energy Campaigner suggests the UK Government should abandon nuclear and invest in renewables instead.

She said: “It speaks volumes about the UK’s struggling nuclear programme that the Government is promoting a reactor that’s years from being granted UK safety approval and is designed by the company that helped build Fukushima. Instead of waiting years to find out how much billpayers will end up subsidising this project, the Government should join Japan and Germany, abandon nuclear, and invest instead in clean, renewable energy.”

The project is expected to create at least 6000 British jobs.

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