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The Midland’s business community looks far and wide for opportunities, but I doubt Cumbria is on the list – perhaps it should be? Famous for tourism, it now sells itself as Britain's Energy Coast TM, with impressive credentials. Home to the National Nuclear Laboratory, the region also boasts 36% of our civil nuclear activities at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant. Training in all things nuclear is delivered through three of the region’s universities and the Nuclear Skills Academy (Energus), which offers expertise to the nuclear and environmental restoration industries. Cumbria also features many renewable energy projects, including the Barrow offshore wind farm, with 30 turbines bringing power ashore since 2006. Currently under development are more offshore wind, tidal and energy from waste projects. The big prize however, is a key role in the government’s new nuclear build programme, with the prospect of three nuclear power stations being built in the region. To sell the obvious opportunities presented by these massive infrastructure projects for Midlands businesses, a 12 strong delegation led by Invest in Cumbria and Cumbria Vision visited Birmingham last month. An invited audience of Midland’s business leaders listened to an outline of the proposals and opportunities on offer through the associated regeneration of the area, the necessary skilling-up and infrastructure development which will accompany the construction programmes. Despite the age of our nuclear power stations, delivering around 20% of our energy, building new ones was off the government radar for many years. This was despite growing concerns of a critical energy gap, as the closure of nuclear plants coincided with impending closure of many fossil fuel fired stations in response to EU pollution legislation. The government has acted and not before time, announcing nuclear will again be a vital part of the energy mix; essential if we are to maintain the country’s security of supply into the future, whilst recognizing the limitations of renewable energy such as wind power in replacing fossil fuel. We all understand nuclear is only largely carbon free during its operation phase; the carbon footprint associated with the construction process, ignoring the environmental issues of decommissioning and waste disposal, makes it a controversial component of a low carbon energy strategy. But constructing any power station - coal, wind or nuclear, will always be a dirty business. Nuclear is here to stay and if Cumbria’s plans come to fruition then it will prove how the transition to a low carbon economy can prime economic development as much in the Midlands, as the immediate vicinity of the development - just what we need in the current climate. For further information please contact: Andrew Whitehead, Partner
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