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Update: "copy and paste letter" now available in next post http://dandelionithappens-dendelion.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/the-eu-consultation-on-state-aid-for.html
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The EU commission opened a public consultation on March 7th for a month about the U.K. state aid case for the new nuclear power plant, Hinkley Point C.
The more people who write, the better; you don’t have to be an expert.
You have until April 7th
to write and it’s an opportunity to tell them how the possibility of higher
electricity prices will affect you, especially if you are running a business. *Help on how to
write at the end of the post!
Background: The government would give EDF a strike price
of £92.50/MWh … (around twice the current rate) for the electricity. This would
be index linked and fixed for 35 years from the time the nuclear power plant is
supposed to start production in about 15 years’ time.
This means that householders’,
businesses’, industries’, schools’… electricity bills might have to cover much
larger energy costs than from renewables, as well as their suppliers’ costs.
The UK government would also give EDF a very large loan to help build
the nuclear power plant as well as other benefits. If they, later, build two more of the same
design at a second site at Sizewell B in Suffolk, the strike price would fall
to 89.50/MWh.
Meanwhile, the cost of solar and wind are falling and expected to go
on falling, as are the costs of other low carbon renewable energies.
Solar energy:
”The
STA [The Solar Trade Association] has asked
for a strike price of £91/MWh in 2018 and expects this to fall to £86 by 2019,
falling year on year thereafter, paid over 15 not 35 years and with no nuclear style
small print permitting a possible increase in strike price once those terms are set.”
…Quote from Seb Berry, head of public affairs at Solarcentury and board member of the STA.
…Quote from Seb Berry, head of public affairs at Solarcentury and board member of the STA.
(Ref page 6 Item 7)
http://www.nuclearpolicy.info/docs/nuclearmonitor/NFLA_New_Nuclear_Monitor_No34.pdf
http://www.nuclearpolicy.info/docs/nuclearmonitor/NFLA_New_Nuclear_Monitor_No34.pdf
Why did the Government fix a higher strike price for 2019 than they asked for?
http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/decc_unveils_new_solar_strike_prices_for_2015_onwards_2356
http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/decc_unveils_new_solar_strike_prices_for_2015_onwards_2356
Wind energy
The European Wind Energy Association says
onshore wind costs could fall to £48/MWh by the 2020s potentially making it the
U.K.’s cheapest power source.
(Also from page 6 Item 7)
And that’s just mentioning two of the low
carbon renewable energies!
The EU commission commented on the affordability of electricity from
the proposed new nuclear plant:
“The
measures, moreover, could hardly be argued to contribute towards affordability
– at least not at current prices, when it will instead and most likely
contribute to an increase in retail prices….”
Also, If you have any connections with the renewable power industry,
or you know anyone who has….the EU Directorate-General would especially like
to hear from you and them.
One of the points the
commission made was:
“The Commission notes in this
respect that a support mechanism which
is specific to nuclear energy generation might crowd out alternative investments
in technologies or combinations of technologies, including renewable energy
sources,………”
The NFLA,CNFE and Stop Hinkley
Media release says:
“Renewable technologies
will be unfairly constrained by the size of the Levy Control Framework funds available,
the bulk of which will probably be used up by Hinkley Point C after 2023,
despite the fact that solar and offshore wind are likely to be cheaper by then.”
Expert opinions have already been submitted, but this
truly is a public consultation.... Will you be able to export to Europe if other countries are paying a fraction of
our electricity costs by 2023? If
someone comes up with a great idea for a new renewable product are the funds
going to be there to help?
This is a real chance for people power .... don’t let’s waste it! You can ask the European Competition Commissioner to declare the State Aid which the UK
Government proposes to give to Hinkley Point C as illegal.
*How to write to the commissioner.
There is a list of important
points you might like to add in the media release below. Use one point, or use them all, it
doesn’t matter.
Your letter
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
To
The European Commission
The Directorate-General for Competition
State aid Registry
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200
1049 Bruxelles/Brussel
BELGIQUE/BELGIË
The European Commission
The Directorate-General for Competition
State aid Registry
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200
1049 Bruxelles/Brussel
BELGIQUE/BELGIË
Email: stateaidgreffe@ec.europa.eu
From
first name *
Last name *
Email *
first name *
Last name *
Email *
Your Message
subject *
subject *
opinion *
Date
Date
__________________________________________________________________________________
There is more information on each of the points at
and facts at No 2 Nuclear Power
‘From “No Public Subsidy “ to “State Aid”’
And a Greenpeace briefing http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/press-releases/hinkley-c-greenpeace-statement-and-briefing-20131021
and this is the link to the full EU document!
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