Wylfa Future Public Meeting Invitation
by David Phillips
Local residents on Anglesey are invited to a public meeting to hear why Wylfa has been approved as a site for a potential new nuclear power station on the island. Senior staff from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will be present at the meeting in the Wylfa Sports and Social Club between 10.00 am and noon on Saturday 16 January. DECC plans to hold a 15 week consultation period about these proposals, to allow as many stakeholders as possible to hear the plans and to have their say. The Wylfa Head location on Anglesey is one of 10 sites given approval by the UK government in November 2009 for as part of the new nuclear build programme. While the present Wylfa power station was originally scheduled to close in December 2010, it may be possible that an extension will be made to its operating life for a further few years. According to Anglesey County Council estimates, the construction of a new nuclear reactor on the island could inject around £8bn into the local economy. This would have the potential to create up to 9,000 jobs building the plant and thereafter around 1,000 posts operating the site. The development land on Wylfa Head, Cemaes Bay, where the new nuclear station would be sited was purchased from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) by a joint venture between E.ON and RWE, now called Horizon Nuclear Power. The government wants local people to have their say. As Energy and Climate change minister, Lord Hunt said: "It's essential that local people get involved and make sure their voices are heard. The minister said that "nuclear power provides reliable, cost-effective and low carbon energy", adding that it will play a crucial role together with clean coal and renewables in ensuring security of supply and a balanced energy mix for the UK. This way Wylfa can make a significant contribution as the UK makes the important step of replacing old power generation capacity with the latest high technology and low carbon energy sources. If you would like to get along to the public meeting are asked to register by ringing (0845) 0048841. For more local news and articles, subscribe to our free Anglesey Today Newsletter here. It's as easy as 1-2-3!
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