GMB LONDON WELCOME EDF APPLICATION ON MAY 27 FOR PLANNING CONSENT ORDER FOR £18 BILLION SUFFOLK NEW NUCLEAR POWER STATION VITAL TO UK ENERGY SECURITY

If the UK is to stand any chance of meeting the net zero carbon emissions targets by 2050 this project has to go ahead says GMB London

GMB London and East of England welcomes the news that EDF is submitting an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate on Wednesday 27 May to develop a new zero carbon nuclear power station at Sizewell in Suffolk. This will cost £18 billion and will supply 7% the total UK’s electricity when completed.

Warren Kenny, GMB Regional Secretary, said “GMB London and East of England welcome this first step in getting this huge project off the ground.

GMB Congress policy is to support this zero carbon electricity power project which is vital to the UK’s energy future and to the economic prosperity of Suffolk.

The application for the DCO will only be given when the Inspectorate are satisfied that the project is safe to go ahead. The Inspectorate has an impressive track record that we can depend on.

If the UK is to stand any chance of meeting the net zero carbon emissions targets by 2050 this project has to go ahead. It is essential that all who share the objective of net zero carbon emissions 2050 get behind the project.

There will be a vocal lobby who oppose the project but they are in a minority. They have no realistic secure alternative supply of zero carbon electricity to meet 7% of our needs over the coming decades.

This is a welcome opening chapter in what will be a very long story and like in previous centuries Suffolk will continue to play a vital role in the economic history of this nation.’