Energy Security Secretary Ed Miliband says ‘families and businesses continue to pay a heavy price for our exposure to fossil fuel markets controlled by dictators like Putin’
Britain is building a new golden age of nuclear power.
Our country has a proud history of leading the world on nuclear power, but for decades the industry has been held back by dither, delay and underinvestment.
Families and businesses across Britain continue to pay a heavy price for our exposure to fossil fuel markets controlled by dictators like Putin.
Nuclear has a central role in taking back control of our energy so we can protect our country and bring down bills for good.
That is why earlier this year the Government announced the biggest expansion of nuclear in half a century – delivering historic public investment in Sizewell C, fusion energy, and the UK’s first small modular reactors, built by Rolls-Royce.
Today, we are taking another major step forward – announcing a landmark deal with the United States that will help turbocharge our nuclear ambitions.
Last year I said my door was open to nuclear developers looking to build in Britain.
This deal will cut the time it takes to build projects in both our countries, as well as opening the door to major new deals between UK and US companies.
This includes X-Energy and Centrica’s plans to build advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, which could create thousands of well-paid jobs in the North East and drive growth across the country.
In Nottinghamshire, Holtec, EDF and Tritax plan to develop advanced data centres powered by small modular reactors at the former Cottam coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire.
The nuclear industry has a long history of supporting well-paid, highly skilled jobs with strong trade unions. The sector now supports a record 98,000 jobs, according to Nuclear Industry Association figures – with more than 10,000 new nuclear jobs created in the last year alone.
These are the kind of jobs the British people rightly expect, but too often have been denied.
This new golden age will provide good work for engineers, technicians, project managers, and apprentices – as we build an energy system that will protect families and businesses from the rollercoaster of fossil fuel prices.
By backing nuclear at home and forging new partnerships with our allies abroad, we will deliver on our Plan for Change to protect billpayers, strengthen our energy security and create good jobs in our communities, making working better off now and for generations to come.
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