Energy: at the crossroads - Keith Taylor MEP

Keith Taylor MEP"The answer to the UK’s energy needslies in investing in job-rich, clean,affordable, renewable energy, ratherthan inventing ever more damagingways to suck fuel out of the earth."Energy: at the crossroadsRevolutionising the way we produce and use energy iscrucial if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change.The UK has some of the best potential to exploitrenewable energy in Europe.Yet instead of creating a sustainable and secure, lowcarbonenergy future for our children, the UK governmentis supporting dirty and dangerous practices like shale gasextraction and tar-sand oil and investing in nuclear power.Across the South East I’ve been explaining that an alternativeis possible. The technology is there. The resourcesare available. All we need now is the political will.Taking Action: No to Nuclear PowerI’ve been actively opposing nuclear power, as well as speaking outagainst a proposed new nuclear dump in my constituency. Nuclearpower is dirty, expensive and leaves a toxic legacy. Keith at Dungeness nuclear powerstation, Kent, near the site of the proposednuclear waste dump on Romney Marsh. Keith supports anti-nuclear campaignersoutside the European Parliament,Brussels.Energy:at thecrossroadswww.keithtaylormep.org.ukkeithtaylor@greenmeps.org.ukTwitter: @GreenKeithMEP020 7250 8415Keith Taylor MEPSouth East England’s Green PartyMember of the European Parliament−Working for a fairer, greener future in Kent,Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight,Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.UHC Vector

Fracking Nuclear Renewable Energy‘Fracking’ involves releasing shale gas by drilling hundreds of metresunderground and pumping in millions of gallons of pressurised waterlaced with chemicals. If this sounds worrying to you, you’re not alone.Fracking was recently linked to an earthquake inBlackpool, and I’m also particularly concerned about thepotential for water contamination and the effect of frackingon carbon emissions.In Sussex and Kent I’ve joined local communities actively fightingfracking proposals and I have called on the UK government toimplement a moratorium. I’ve also been working with other GreenMEPs to oppose fracking across Europe and have pressed theEuropean Commission to strengthen laws on the dangerouschemicals the process uses. Fracking rig.Credit: TomGrundy Dungeness Bnuclear powerstation on RomneyMarsh, Kent.The nuclear lobby would have us believe that nuclear energy isnecessary for a low-carbon future, but this just isn’t the case.Nuclear power is a dangerous and expensive distraction with atoxic legacy.In the South East I’ve opposed proposals to build a nucleardump on Romney Marsh in Kent. The marsh is vulnerable toflooding and sea-level rises – extremely worrying given thatnuclear waste remains dangerous for thousands of years.Nuclear power plants are also vulnerable to accidents, terroristattacks and natural disasters - something Japanese anti-nuclearcampaigners were keen to emphasise when I met them on a visitto Japan after the Fukushima disaster. In the European Parliamentit was Green politicians who pushed through common senseprecautions, such as ensuring that nuclear waste isn’t stored inregions prone to earthquakes. Solar panels.Credit: BlueSquare ThingThe UK is lagging behind the rest of Europe on renewable energygeneration. I’ve been calling for further investment in renewablesand vocally opposing the government’s cuts to much needed solarsubsidies.Whether its solar panels on our roofs, wind turbines off ourcoasts or insulating our homes, investment in renewableenergy generation and energy efficiency is the onlysustainable solution for our energy future.It’s not only good for our planet but it could also provide hundredsof thousands of new jobs, pulling us out of recession by kickstartingthe green economy.In the South East I’ve seen exciting examples of our region leadingthe way, such as the first community owned solar power station,which I visited in Lewes.