Power provided by renewable energy suppliers is preferable to the nuclear alternative, according to a Green Party MEP candidate.
Talking to the Big Issue in the North, Peter Cranie said that a variety of issues, such as the problems of dealing with nuclear waste and the fact that fully operational new nuclear reactors are still several years away, all point to renewable energy being the way forward.
He went on to say that renewable forms such as wind farms and wave power could also provide new jobs much more quickly and help stimulate the economy.
Mr Cranie told the magazine: "Nuclear provides about four per cent of our energy. We could save several times that much just by improving energy efficiency in homes and businesses. Reducing demand would cut people's fuel bills and incidentally create tens of thousands of extra jobs".
He added that developing the renewable sector will create more long-term jobs than investment in the nuclear industry.
The government is pressing ahead with nuclear redevelopment, with the first reactors expected to be operational by 2017.
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