Scotland cannot rely on renewable energy alone, and must turn to nuclear power to safeguard future electricity production, Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy claimed yesterday.
Mr Murphy told the BBC’s Politics Show it was crucial to invest in renewable energy – such as tidal and wind power – but only as part of a wider mix.
Asked if it was possible for the country to become self-sufficient from renewable sources, Mr Murphy said: “I don’t believe it is.”
The Scottish Government is opposed to any new nuclear power stations north of the border, which puts it at odds with Westminster.
Mr Murphy is due to address a conference on nuclear energy in Edinburgh today.
The conference agenda includes topics such as “public acceptance” and is aimed at “professional nuclear communicators” across the world.
Mr Murphy told the BBC: “It’s crucial that we have an enormous expansion in investment and deliver our renewables — so wind and wave and solar in particular. But, in itself, that’s not enough.
“We need nuclear as part of a safe, environmentally sensitive, carbon-free electricity production in future.”
He said the UK should deliver enough energy to power as a whole, not in competition between a nuclear-fuelled England and a nuclear-free Scotland.
He added: “In the long term, I would like to see Scotland as an enormous world centre of renewables, but also with nuclear as part of a carbon-free electricity production here in Scotland and across the UK.”
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon later told the Politics Show that Mr Murphy was “plain wrong” for backing nuclear.
“The contrast couldn’t be clearer,” she said. “Tomorrow I think he’s speaking to some spin doctors for the nuclear industry.
“Alex Salmond will be opening the new offices of a marine renewable company – the latest company to base its operations here in Scotland.”
Mr Murphy will be underlining the UK Government’s support for nuclear power at the Public Information Materials Exchange (Pime) conference.
Lord O’Neill of Clackmannan, chairman of the UK Nuclear Industry Association, said an opinion poll showed support had grown in Scotland to 40% in favour of nuclear power.
“Clearly an increasing number of Scottish people believe that the road to greater energy security in Scotland includes an increase in the use of nuclear power.”
But SNP MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Labour and the nuclear lobby must learn to stop coming to Scotland and preaching policies that neither the Scottish Parliament nor the Scottish public want.”
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