Urgent need for national energy authority to plan and build for our future

It is sad news that Hunterston B nuclear power station is to close (The Scotsman, 28 August). This loss of low carbon energy is a serious setback for those of us who wish to see reductions inca rb ondi oxide emissions. Unfortunately, some people believe that net zero carbon emissions can be achieved without nuclear power plants – this is just not true.

Brian Wilson’s article “Antinuclear prejudice has cost us dear” (29 August) gives a very clear and factual analysis of the situation. It is ver y disappointing that we will all have to pay the price if politicians don’t listen to exp er t advice from engineers in the energy industry who make clear that nuclear energy capacity needs to be increased to make sure that our electricity system has security of supply and that the price of electricity is reduced and not allowed to continuing to increase by unacceptable amounts each year.

The question to be asked is why is energ y supply not at the top of the political agenda? There is an urgent need for a national energy authority which would be responsible for planning and building the necessar y mix of energ y plants in the national interest. The present electricity system does not meet this requirement and needs to be reformed.

There is little concern shown for the apparent inc re asing number of people in fuel poverty which some politicians mention but who could address this matter by taking advice from those experienced power engineers in the energy sector instead of hanging on to political doctrines.

C. SCOTT Mortonhall Road, Edinburgh

Hunter son Bis to close two years ahead of its scheduled extension in 2022. Energy Minister Paul Wheel house tries to convince us that renewable sources will cope to keep the lights on.

What he does not tell us is that if the wind turbines are switched off it could take the grid a week to energise the system and is why at the moment we have back-up from nuclear– Torn es s–and gas at Peterhead that can energise the line immediately. I trust he will look out a good torch and Tilleyl am pin case of being plunged into darkness!

MICHAEL BAIRD Dornoch Road, Bonar Bridge