Council Votes to Support District-Wide Clean Energy

On November 29, Folkestone & Hythe District Council endorsed a new era of clean energy generation in the district.

The council will advocate for the support of ministers and local politicians in the implementation of clean energy initiatives across Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh.

During a full council meeting, Councillors rejected a motion calling for the council’s “unequivocal support for a new era of nuclear energy production at Dungeness.” They deemed such a motion too restrictive, potentially relying on the deployment of new and untested nuclear technology.

The original motion, proposed by Conservative councillors, highlighted unproven benefits of an emerging nuclear technology known as Small Modular Reactors (SMR).

To broaden the discussion, Council Leader and Hythe councillor, Jim Martin, encouraged councillors to support an amendment enabling the evaluation of all proposals for clean energy generation district-wide.

Twenty-one councillors supported Jim’s amendment, while six opposed it.

This decision allows for the exploration of alternative energy generation methods, recognising the potential benefits of a diverse energy portfolio.

We acknowledge local concerns about the future of a large employer in the district. However, we understand that the existing power stations will continue to be a major employer in the years to come as they are decommissioned. We also recognise reservations about committing to new nuclear technology before it undergoes testing and confirmation of viability.

This decision provides the council with the flexibility to consider all energy proposals, recognising the importance of evaluating new and emerging technologies when they become deliverable realities.

Nationally, the Green Party wants to phase out nuclear energy. In March 2022, Green Party Co-leader Adrian Ramsey said “Nuclear energy is an expensive distraction at a time when we face the dual challenges of spiralling energy costs and concerns over energy security.

“Our focus needs to be on developing renewable energy technologies and a big push on energy efficiency. Both are cleaner and cheaper solutions that can be delivered far quicker than nuclear ever can.

“That’s why we are calling for a £250 billion investment plan for a nationwide home retrofit scheme and renewables in tomorrow’s Spring statement.”

“Because the safety of nuclear plants requires cooling water, climate change also poses a safety hazard. Extreme weather events and rising sea levels will increasingly render nuclear power plants vulnerable.”