GREEN MEP, Molly Scott Cato, is urging MPs in the South West to reconsider their commitment to Hinkley Point nuclear power station after the cost of offshore wind power reaches a record low.

She says that Tory MPs' continued support for the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, and their opposition to both on and offshore wind, represents a huge missed economic opportunity for the South West. 

Dr Scott Cato's challenge comes as the price of offshore wind power falls dramatically below the cost of generating electricity from Hinkley. The results of a government auction on September 11 for subsidy contracts reveal two offshore windfarms will be built producing electricity for just £57.50 per MWh, compared with the £92.50 per MWh guaranteed for Hinkley’s nuclear power. 

She said: “Now that the cost of offshore wind is so much cheaper than nuclear, it is time for Conservative and Labour MPs from across the South West region to unite against Hinkley and back renewables. 

“For the South West there are huge economic opportunities to be had from our rich mix of available renewable energy resources, and chief amongst these is off-shore wind. 

“Yet looking at the auctions for new government energy subsidies for offshore wind, released earlier this month, nobody has applied for subsidy to build offshore wind in the South West. 

“It’s time for the region’s Tory MPs to end their ideological pro nuclear, anti-renewables obsession and get behind previously shelved offshore wind schemes; ditched partly due to dogmatic opposition to wind power. 

“There are also thousands of jobs to be created in the renewables sector; many more than can ever be created from nuclear. Not only through operating and servicing renewable energy plants, but also through manufacturing of components to support the renewables sector. Already we see more than £1 million worth of exports of micro windmills manufactured in Stroud by Ecotricity. Meanwhile, in Hull, Siemens has invested £310 million in wind turbine production and installation facilities, creating over 1000 jobs. 

“Now is the time to usher in a new green industrial revolution in the South West.” 

Filton and Bradley Stoke MP Jack Lopresti said that Hinkley Point remains important for the security of energy supply that it will provide.

“As we look to the future and the changes it will bring, such as companies phasing out production of petrol and diesel cars, we have a duty to ensure the security of our energy supply to allow growth, investment and production to continue in this country," he said.

"This will not come from one energy source but many, so we need to keep to our investment targets in nuclear energy as well as the renewable market.

"With increasing uncertainty on the world stage and fossil fuel reserves limited, nuclear offers a reliable supply of energy and Hinkley Point C is projected to produce 13 per cent of our nation's energy once operational, allowing more time for scientists to develop the next generation of reliable energy production and protecting us if an adversary attempted to disrupt our energy interests abroad.”