The First Minister has warned UK Energy Minister Chris Huhne that back-tracking over subsidising the nuclear industry will be as damaging as the decision to renege on tuition fees.
He said the LibDem election manifesto had been absolutely clear that nuclear power would not be subsidised.
Nuclear Power
However, current plans for the future of low-carbon energy could lead to subsidies for nuclear power, Mr Salmond said, adding: “That would be total disaster. This would be a bottomless pit of subsidy.
“All the wealth in the North Sea could not subsidise a new generation of nuclear power stations and the worst thing about nuclear power is the front end subsidy is not the end of it. In fact, it would be just the beginning. The real subsidy for nuclear power is taking on the massive cost and the risk of decommissioning.”
He added: “The danger for Scotland is that money for renewable energy would be siphoned off in support of a new generation of nuclear power in England, and that is what we are determined to avoid. I don’t want nuclear power subsidies to become Chris Huhne’s tuition fees.”
However, Lewis Macdonald, Labour’s energy spokesman, said: “The SNP is the only party that believes coal-fired power is the better option in the age of climate change when reducing carbon emissions is the priority. Alex Salmond’s attack on Chris Huhne shows he is increasingly isolated on the future of low-carbon power.”
Mr Salmond welcomed more than 30 senior energy industry leaders to Aberdeen as they gathered for a summit to discuss collaboration between the oil and gas and renewables sectors to help accelerate Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
Offshore wind alone could create as many as 48,000 jobs by 2020 and contribute £7.1 billion to the economy over the next decade.