UK nuclear power plans are 'Soviet', says EU energy commissioner
UK nuclear power plans are 'Soviet', says EU energy commissioner
Günther Oettinger says government's plans to strike 40-year contracts for new nuclear plants with EDF are 'Soviet'
Arthur Neslen for EurActiv, part of the Guardian Environment Network
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 1 May 2013
A prominent clean energy campaigner has been banned from the European Energy Forum after tweeting remarks made by the EU's energy commissioner describing the UK's plan to hand out long-term contracts to nuclear companies as "Soviet".
Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger's putdown of the 16.5-billion British plan will likely be met with furrowed brows in London, where the 35-40-year contracts have proved controversial to some because of their length, nature and the scale of the subsidy involved.
Oettinger's remark was made on 19 February at a meeting of the European Energy Forum, which brings together MEPs and leaders of industry. 'Chatham House rules' are assumed at such meetings, although they are neither advertised nor announced.
The Chatham House rule, which is often used in press briefings, protects the anonymity of speakers, while allowing the information they impart to be reported.
But Mark Johnston, a well-known environmental expert...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/may/01/nuclear-power-soviet-eu-energy-commissioner