Nuclear power: In quotes

Reaction in quotes to Trade and Industry Secretary Alastair Darling's statement giving the go-ahead to a new generation of nuclear power stations.

RSPB: "Some of the best areas for wildlife could be lost if plans to build inappropriately sited wind farms are given the green light because of changes to the planning system proposed in today's energy review."

SERA, the Labour environment campaign: "We do not believe nuclear power is the solution - it is costly, risky and leaves a legacy of dangerous waste. It is not carbon free. The mining of uranium, the construction of stations and the fabrication process are all carbon intensive. We are concerned that investment in this technology could divert resources from improving energy efficiency and developing renewable supplies and micro generation."

Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth: "This Energy Review is a massive missed opportunity. It is not ambitious enough on energy efficiency and renewable power, and practically ignores tackling emissions from the transport sector. It is clear that the government priority is nuclear power. This is a huge mistake. Nuclear power is unsafe, uneconomic and unnecessary."

London Mayor Ken Livingstone: "It is a colossal mistake to head off down the nuclear path once again. We need a solution to the climate change that protects the environment rather than threatens it, and one that does not literally cost the earth."

Jack Dromey, Transport and General Workers Union: "The government should be very cautious about over reliance on the private sector, for now and for the long-term strategic decisions. The government is right to maintain nuclear power for the future. The problems of waste disposal must be resolved, however."

Keith Taylor, Green Party: "Alistair Darling has today led the UK down a dirty and dangerous path, that of a fresh round of astronomically expensive nuclear power stations. He claims to believe that the private sector will 'fund, construct and operate new nuclear plants and cover the cost of decommissioning and their full share of long term waste management'. This is a sham and a fudge - nowhere in the world is nuclear power entirely self financing. We have yet to see a single nuclear power station come in on budget."

Stephen Hale, Green Alliance: "Just as we feared, the energy review has given strong backing to a failed technology for which the taxpayer already faces a future bill of over £70bn. It is a U-turn on the evidence-based conclusion of the 2003 Energy White Paper."

Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Tesco: "We challenge the government to help businesses achieve the kind of renewable energy targets they are talking about. We are looking at installing renewable technology in over 70 sites across the UK but need to get planning permission approved first, which, from our experience, is a long and complicated process."

Mark Clare, British Gas Residential Energy: "The government has sensibly given subsidies the red card and is opting for market solutions to deliver new power generation, including nuclear. But before new nuclear plants can realistically be built from 2015, there is a looming need for 15 new 1,000 megawatt power stations, most of them gas-fired. Therefore, if we are to avoid an energy black hole opening up, the government must continue pushing hard for Europe to kick its monopoly markets into touch and ensure the UK has secure access to gas at fair prices."

Stephen Tindale, Greenpeace: "Tony Blair is fixated with getting new nuclear power stations built, and that means anything substantial in this review that supports clean green energy will be fatally undermined as long as Blair remains prime minister."

Mike Jeram, Unison: "The government's commitment to greater energy efficiency is commendable, but it has not gone far enough. It would be unwise to embark on a costly programme to build new nuclear power stations. This would divert much needed resources from renewable technologies and energy saving measures."

David Fursdon, Country Land and Business Association: "The debate over nuclear electricity is a distraction. We must go further than simply talking about electricity; electricity accounts for only some 25% of UK greenhouse gas emissions. The countryside has a great deal to offer to ensure security of supply and sustainable energy for the long term."

Sustainable Development Commission: "We came to the conclusion that the UK does not need to replace its existing nuclear power programme, and that the disadvantages associated with nuclear power outweigh its advantages. We are therefore very disappointed that the government has decided to encourage energy providers to bring forward proposals for a new nuclear programme."

Conservative Alan Duncan: "The prime minister says that he wants new nuclear power stations, however, the review does not tell us how he will make that happen ...Three years ago we were promised final decisions. Today we have not got them. The review appears to have done almost nothing. It is a grave and perilous let down."

Lib Dem Edward Davey: "The government has put forward some sensible ideas today on energy efficiency and renewables. By caving in to the nuclear industry lobby, however, they have destroyed the potential for cross-party consensus. I regret to say that that means much greater uncertainty in future energy policy."

Labour's Michael Meacher: "Why are we going down the nuclear route at all? Nuclear power is far more expensive and hopelessly uneconomic. Decommissioning costs are enormous. There are mountains of nuclear waste, which we do not know where to put and it will increase our risk of terrorism."

Lib Dem Vincent Cable: "Will the secretary of state spell out the government's responsibilities when the market price of electricity falls below the cost of privately generated nuclear power, making the company insolvent? Is it not inevitable that the taxpayer will have to subsume the liabilities, as it did with British Energy in the past?"

Tory Henry Bellingham: "Is the secretary of state aware of how disruptive offshore wind farms are to inshore fishermen? Is he aware that there are no proper compensation arrangements in place for fishermen, especially those who fish in the Wash? Will you look carefully at that issue before the offshore wind farm programme is further rolled out?"

Tory Nick Hurd: "Simply announcing today a talking shop for UK coal producers and reheating an old announcement about a demonstration project is a wholly inadequate response to the risk and opportunity of clean coal."

Labour's Michael Connarty: "Can you assure me that the carbon price will be set at a level that will allow people who wish to invest in nuclear power and other forms of carbon-reducing energy to be rewarded adequately for their efforts and their investments?"

Labour's Jamie Reed: "I welcome the secretary of state's announcement, in particular on behalf of the 40,000 nuclear workers in the UK and the 17,000 in my constituency. Where the government has shown courage on nuclear, the Liberal Democrats have shown confusion and the Conservatives have shown cowardice."