BRITISH PARLIAMENT: New Parliamentary Group Formed to Consider Thorium ~ March 2, 2012

Last year, Kirk Dorius and I travelled to London to participate in the kickoff of the Weinberg Foundation, an advocacy group for thorium energy.  I am pleased to announce with them the formation of an “All-Party Parliamentary Group” or APPG that contains members of both theHouse of Commons and House of Lords, to consider the potential of thorium as an energy source.  This is a press release from the Weinberg Foundation that was issued today.  Press contact details are included below.

Safer, cleaner nuclear alternative tops the agenda for new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Thorium Energy

World’s first coalition of cross-party legislators formed to examine thorium-fuelled nuclear power

Westminster, London – 01 March 2012 – The Weinberg Foundation, a not-for-profit advocacy group for thorium energy, announces the formation of a new All-Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Thorium Energy, which held a lively inaugural meeting in parliament yesterday.

Attracting cross-party support from MPs and Peers, the forum will generate critical debate on the potential of thorium as a viable new energy source and examine reactor technology and new fuel designs in planning for the adoption of a viable cleaner, safer and abundant global energy solution.  As 10,000 times the energy density of coal, thorium is a convincing nuclear fuel option to tackle fossil-fuel reliance.

Labour Peer Baroness Worthington, who is the patron of the Weinberg Foundation and Chair of the APPG, comments:

“Whilst public opinion is moving towards the acceptance of nuclear power to combat environmentally damaging fossil-fuelled energy sources, Fukushima clearly demonstrated the dangers of traditional solid-fuel uranium reactor designs. If there is a safer ‘green nuclear’ alternative, which also effectively tackles waste, proliferation and energy security, we have a responsibility to future generations to examine it.”

Vice-Chair of the group Dr Julian Huppert MP said:

“As a scientist I am delighted to help establish this platform for evidence based discussion and debate on this most important issue. Nuclear power has always had great potential and the UK was once a world leader in nuclear science research. We intend to explore whether energy from thorium can make a significant contribution to delivering a low carbon economy and help to reinstate the UK’s leadership position.”

The Department for Energy and Climate Change in its recent response to a highly critical House of Lords Science and Technology Committee report into nuclear R&D recently announced its intention to consult on a long term strategy for nuclear power in the UK.

Many of the APPG members have backgrounds in science, climate policy and the energy industry and are well placed to examine the need for the UK to take a considered position on Thorium. Energy-hungry nations like China, Japan, India and others currently look to be leading the march on exploiting the benefits offered by Thorium-fuelled reactors.

The Weinberg Foundation is providing the secretariat to support the APPG. End.

 

Notes to the Editor The list of founding members of the APPG is as follows:

 

Officers Chair: Baroness Worthington (Lab) Vice-Chair: Dr Julian Huppert MP (Lib Dem) Treasurer: Lord Lucas of Crudwell (Con)

Members Lord Clark of Windermere Mike Crockart MP, Lib Dem Tony Cunningham MP, Labour Lord Deben, Conservative Barry Gardiner MP, Labour Lord Grantchester, LabourViscount Stephen Hanworth, Labour John Hemming, Lib Dem Lord Jay, Cross bench The Rt Reverend Bishop of Hereford, Antony Priddis Lord O’Neill of Clackmannan, Labour Lord Oxburgh, Cross bench Lord Stoddart, Independent Labour Lord Taverne, Lib Dem Lord Teverson, Lib Dem James Wharton MP, Conservative Heather Wheeler MP, Conservative Lord Whitty, Labour Simon Wright MP, Lib Dem Tim Yeo MP, Conservative

 

For further information contact: Sophia Henri Communications, Weinberg Foundation Secretariat to the APPG on Thorium Energy Tel: +44 (0) 7793 555403 Email: Sophia.henri@the-weinberg-foundation.org www.the-weinberg-foundation.org

 

David Martin APPG co-ordinator davidmj@parliament.uk Tel: 07903 434399 david.martin@the-weinberg-foundation.org

Yesterday the oldest nuclear power plant in the UK (Oldbury) permanently closed.  Perhaps today the door is opening on a bright new thorium-powered future!

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