Caithness councillor says MSP's opposition to nuclear power has 'set back the hopes of this county'
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Maree Todd is facing renewed pressure over her opposition to nuclear development in Caithness after being challenged on the issue by a second Highland councillor.
Councillor Matthew Reiss said her comments had "set back the hopes of this county" and he urged her to think again.
He also asked the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross whether she had ever been to Dounreay.
Earlier, Councillor Struan Mackie, who chairs Dounreay Stakeholder Group, had accused Ms Todd of "peddling misinformation" and doing a disservice to generations of local workers by refusing to support the case for a small modular reactor (SMR) in the area.
Rolls-Royce hopes to build up to 10 SMR power stations by 2035, and there have been calls for one to be established in Caithness. But Ms Todd warned last week of the "high cost and high risk" associated with nuclear power and declared: "I cannot in all conscience support a nuclear fission solution as a cost-effective, safe energy source for our community and I believe the vast majority of the public back my position."
In a letter to the MSP, Councillor Reiss stated: "I was truly worried to read of your recent comments that appear to effectively completely rule out any new nuclear plants in Caithness but, even at this late stage, wish to ask you whether this really represents your position and that of the SNP. If this is the case, please would you reconsider your stance?
"I am sure you are aware of the simple fact that Dounreay remains our largest employer and still represents an opportunity for your government to move towards a practical transition to a lower-carbon economy by building a new nuclear plant here.
"One look at the National Grid’s current energy status on cold, still and sunless days shows how reliant we are on both gas and nuclear for some years yet. Across the Channel, France is building new nuclear power stations while non-nuclear Germany is at the mercy of a cold, calculating President Putin, who can turn the gas supplies on and off at a whim."
Councillor Reiss asked whether Ms Todd had visited Dounreay, or neighbouring Vulcan, and spoken to "our exceptional staff". He wrote: "It is a vibrant, renowned and forward-thinking place – your comments have set back the hopes of this county, while other areas of the UK will welcome the new jobs and higher standards of living."
Councillor Reiss recalled how an Inverness SNP councillor had brought "an anti-nuclear and therefore anti-Caithness motion" proposing that Highland Council join Nuclear Free Local Authorities. He added: "Due to the actions of my ward colleague, Councillor Struan Mackie, and others the motion was defeated and, instead, Highland Council committed to actively encouraging new nuclear developments, in stark contrast to your stance."
In her comments last week, Ms Todd pointed out that the SNP had been clear in its opposition to nuclear development and she maintained that Scotland must look instead to "safe, sustainable and cost-effective" renewable energy.
Councillors Reiss and Mackie both represent Thurso and Northwest Caithness on Highland Council, as an independent and a Scottish Conservative and Unionist respectively.
Rolls-Royce has said that SMR power stations "can support both on-grid electricity and a range of off-grid clean energy solutions, enabling the decarbonisation of industrial processes and the production of clean fuels".
It says much of the investment "is expected to be focused in the north of the UK, where there is significant existing nuclear expertise".
When asked whether she had visited Dounreay or Vulcan, and whether she would reconsider her stance, Ms Todd said: “Since being elected to represent the constituency, I have met with various representatives from the nuclear industry and many constituents who are or have been employed at Dounreay.
"My door is always open to constituents who want to raise issues with me.
“We need solutions for today so we must focus on our enormous reliable energy sources that offer value for money and align with our net-zero ambitions."
Ms Todd added: “I know Councillor Reiss is facing re-election and I look forward to reading in the press how he would tackle fuel poverty and the cost-of-living crisis in the area he represents.”
Related stories:
- Maree Todd says she cannot give her backing to 'high cost and high risk' nuclear power station
- MSP accused of disregarding 'very clear will from far north' by opposing a Caithness mini-reactor
