Trudy has welcomed the announcement that Rolls Royce SMR has secured funding to develop small nuclear reactors – and will continue to lobby for Copeland to be the location of this new development.
Rolls Royce SMR announced today (Tuesday) that it will invest £195 million of private funding across three years in the project, with a further £210 million pledged from the Government, as announced by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng in support of the “largest engineering collaboration the UK has ever seen”.
Trudy said: “SMRs will deliver clean, low-carbon, affordable energy and will play a significant role in our net zero ambitions.
“If 16 power stations are built, they will return £52 billion of value to the UK economy by 2050, and generate a £250 billion export market, with the creation of 40,000 high-skilled jobs.
“SMRs are also less expensive than alternatives and will produce power at between £35 to £50 per megawatt-hour.
“Today’s announcement is most welcome and follows years of hard work to get to this significant milestone. Ever since I was elected in 2017, I have campaigned strongly to introduce SMRs and to have them located in Copeland.
“From securing and chairing a Westminster Hall Debate on the Nuclear Sector Deal and pushing for SMRs and outlining the benefits for our area back in 2018, to asking the Treasury to support the financial case in 2019, to the launch of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan in 2020 (with a commitment at point three to large and small nuclear), through to this year’s publication of the Net Zero Needs Nuclear report, my commitment to the benefits of SMRs has been consistent.
“As Copeland’s MP and through the Nuclear Delivery Group, I will continue to make the strong case for Copeland with colleagues in Government, industry and the local authorities.
“Our community knows more about nuclear power than anywhere else in Europe, and we have a deep talent pool with a track record of safety and deliverability, and Copeland should be at the forefront of this new and exciting development.”
For the full announcement from Rolls Royce SMR, visit:
Press releases - Rolls-Royce announces funding secured for Small Modular Reactors –Rolls-Royce
