The 35 year deal on the strike price that EDF will receive for new nuclear energy from Hinkley Point-C has been described as a ‘colossal waste of resources’ by the Scottish National Party, which is the party of the Scottish Government.
Chic Brodie, an SNP MSP who is a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, said:
“The Westminster Government today announced a deal with EDF energy on a strike price for electricity generated by the proposed new nuclear power station at Hinckley Point, which will see the company paid £92.50 per megawatt hour generated – around double the current price of power. This consumer subsidy comes despite promises from the Westminster Government that new nuclear would only go ahead “without subsidy”.
“Under the planned system of Contracts for Difference, each type of energy technology will agree a ‘strike price’ with the Government for the energy it produces in contracts which had previously been expected to last for 20 years. When the wholesale price of energy is below that strike price, the difference will be made up through a surcharge on consumer bills.
“This deal that will see new nuclear power heavily subsidised by customers for at least the next 35 years is a colossal waste of resources and a complete betrayal of the Westminster Government’s promise of no subsidies for nuclear energy.
“The price that has been agreed is a hefty bill that will leave people paying the price for Westminster’s obsession with grossly overpriced nuclear energy.
“While the Westminster Government is forcing people to pay through the nose for nuclear white elephants, the SNP have pledged to use the powers of an independent Scotland to lower people’s energy bills by around 5% – or £70 a year.”
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