Well done, Miliband – but rather late

The news that Wylfa has been identified by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband as the site of one of the new-generation nuclear power stations will be very well received on Anglesey; the only pity is that the Government effectively wasted ten years by refusing to endorse nuclear in its first energy white paper.

Still, there is more joy in heaven and all that…

Even the former CND member and civil nuclear power opponent, Peter Hain, has given the Wylfa announcement a fairly enthusiastic welcome:

“It is important for the energy security of our country that we get a new nuclear round of building started as soon as possible.

“A new nuclear power station at Wylfa will provide us with a stable energy mix which includes renewable generation such as wind and tidal, as well as our investment in clean coal technology.”

Problem is that the only one of those technologies that may be described as in any developed is wind power, which makes it the low hanging fruit of renewables; it is, however, less than 30 per cent efficient.  Tidal power is pitifully underdeveloped and clean coal is at little more than the experimental stage.

So nuclear is really the only means of reliable baseload generation that does not produce carbon emissions.  Ed Miliband’s announcement is therefore, I repeat, most welcome.

Despite being  ten years late.