With past historic events involving Nuclear Power such as Fukushima, 3 Mile Island and Chernobyl it’s no wonder some people in Wales are against recent involvement of Horizon Nuclear Energy investing in another site here.
Another site, yes you read that right.
There is already existing disused site that was closed in 2015 after both its reactors were shut down and decommissioned as they were no longer fit for purpose and could cost too much to repair. The original site was operational in 1971. A rather large and dangerous construction and business that failed to provide a viable industry for less than half a century, comparable to the endless sun, wind and biomass energy we are more than capable of producing in Wales.
Image Source – Daily Post
The new site is planned to be built next to the decommissioned site taking up to 300hectres of the vital natural landscape of Camaes Bay in Anglesey. In the above image the old site is North and the new site is South.
Undoubtedly this will have an impact on the environment, landscape and economy around the site. Why they cannot wait until the old site is useable instead of destroying more habitat for an energy source that has a limited life before a new site will need to be found.
Recently North Wales has been proposed as a potential site were nuclear waste could be dumped at least 200metres below ground and the land owners would be paid excess of £3 millionpounds, which would have a detrimental effect not only to our towns, but our house prices and this effect would last for many generations.
Something that is a quick fix now should not be allowed when it will hinder future generations in the area and sadly you can guarantee that it will only be social housing built here.
This is a cove not far from the site, I was walking once on a rainy day here and saw a seal in the sea, and was mesmerised. Such a vital rural cove unaffected yet by mass tourism or human impact.
Renewable Energy mainly in the form of wind tubines is currently making up 6.9 TWH of our energy and just one of the newest turbines built off North Wales is capable of producing more energy then the whole first windfarm plant.
The remaining 39 Twh of power is from fossil fuels.
Image Source - http://naturalresources.wales/climate-change/energy/wind-energy/
Although we still have a long way to go before we can phase out fossil fuels Nuclear cannot be an option as we have far more space still available for turbines and with a lack of investment in the renewables market which can only get better in time.. we hope.
Wales is country renowed for its lush landscape, diverse habitats, wildlife and clean fresh water we must not destroy this before we explore other options first.