Environment

Greenpeace blockades ageing Spanish nuclear plant

by Amy Judd | November 20, 2008 at 01:21 pm

151 views | 18 Recommendations | 4 comments

Greenpeace protestors blocked the entrance to a Spanish power plant today asking for the government to shut it down immediately due to the fact it uses nuclear power. It was set to close next year as it is.

The environmental group said 60 protesters gathered outside Garona, the first of seven nuclear plants whose operating permits come up for renewal between 2009-11, within the mandate of the recently re-elected Socialist government. Greenpeace said Spain's booming renwable energy sector could easily replace the 500 megawatts of power produced by Garona. "Prime Minister (Jose Luis Rodriguez) Zapatero would make a big mistake if he decides to turn his back on the anti-nuclear majority," a Greenpeace statement said.

Nuclear power is very unpopular in Spain, and no more plants will be built, but existing plants could stay open for many years to come. Nuclear power supplies 20 percent of Spain's electricity.

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Dan Finnan

at 14:34 on November 20th, 2008

"Spain is the world's third-biggest producer of wind power after a boom in renewable energy aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions and the country's dependence on imported fuel.

Wind parks in Spain have the capacity to produce more than twice as much power as nuclear plants, but in practice they generate about half as much as the wind does not blow steadily."

Source - Reuters

Amitjha

at 22:04 on November 20th, 2008

Thats great stuff, but people are going to suffer in both ways.Wheter green alternative or non black alternative. Thank god fuel price is heading south.That will create even greater challenge for green fuel in terms of cost effectiveness.

_Smyle

at 18:48 on November 21st, 2008

The president said these plants were gonna be closed as he himself does not support them at all, especially having other energies. There's a protest going on all over Spain to stop the maintenance of the industries.
We'll see what happens...