Copeland MP Trudy Harrison is set to meet with senior Copeland council bosses about bringing new nuclear reactors to Moorside.
Ambitions are high in Cumbria that Moorside could become a Clean Energy Hub, with a vision for a mixture of green energy solutions, potentially including solar and wind power as well as nuclear.
And the site neighbouring Sellafield is one of several locations in line for Small Modular Reactors, a clean energy solution which uses nuclear power.
The nuclear power station Hinkley Point C in Somerset is currently under construction, with Sizewell C in Suffolk also teed up for a new nuclear development.
In a week in which a number of national headlines highlighted new nuclear ambitions, it was revealed that Copeland MP Trudy Harrison will soon be meeting senior figures from the borough council, to discuss a strategy for bringing nuclear power to Moorside.
Mrs Harrison said: “Ever since I was elected in 2017, I have campaigned strongly to introduce SMRs and to have them located in Copeland.
“As Copeland’s MP and through the Nuclear Delivery Group, I will continue to make the strong case for Copeland with colleagues in Government, industry and the local authorities.
“Our community knows more about nuclear power than anywhere else in Europe, and we have a deep talent pool with a track record of safety and deliverability, and Copeland should be at the forefront of this new and exciting development.”
The recent development of the Government taking a 20 per cent stake in Sizewell C could mean positive news for new nuclear plans in Copeland.
Copeland council’s nuclear spokesman Councillor David Moore said: “The problem was it was always going to be Hinkley would need to finish before Sizewell could start.”
But the Government’s involvement in Sizewell now means that the work could begin before Hinkley is complete. This precedent could mean a faster delivery for new nuclear at Moorside.
The site is also in the running for a fusion reactor from STEP. The UK Atomic Energy Authority has shortlisted Moorside in the final five of its siting competition.
Cllr Moore said: “We hope to hear about the fusion this year, our focus at this stage is on fusion and SMR.
“Mrs Harrison has got a meeting set up mid-April with senior councillors and partners to see how we could speed up how we can bring the SMRs to Copeland.”
