The province wants to hear from municipalities what they think about small nuclear power plants. During a debate on Energy Vision 2050, a document about the organization of the energy system, the VVD urged the province to follow the example of Gelderland, Overijssel and South Holland. Drenthe must think about whether Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) can become part of the energy supply.
“I’m not saying that there should be an SMR tomorrow,” said VVD member Kees Vianen. “But we have to take steps forward and anticipate the future energy supply. The energy demand cannot be met with solar and wind energy alone.” His proposal received support from a large majority of Drenthe politicians.
Opponents think all the energy and effort put into this is a waste of time and they point out that the government is in charge of it. Siska Peeks (Party for the Animals) and Sam Pormes (Lijst Pormes) therefore call it “wishful thinking” and “symbol politics”. “Nuclear energy is government policy. Let us focus on what is possible.”
Deputy Bart van Dekken (CDA) acknowledged that it is a “national matter” and he is certainly not going to conduct major studies into SMRs. Van Dekken would like to hear from the municipalities how they view energy from small nuclear power plants.
“We are allowed and can certainly investigate a broad energy mix, possibly including nuclear energy. As a Board, we can live with that.”
