Copeland’s nuclear boss has given an ambitious prediction for the number of green jobs created in the borough on the march to net zero carbon.

Councillor David Moore, Copeland Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Nuclear and Commercial Services, has said that thousands of jobs could be created in the coming decades.

A Local Government Association report has broken down the number of jobs that will be seen in the low-carbon and renewable energy sector in each area by 2050.

The LGA said that Copeland will see 861, Allerdale will see 1,771, Carlisle will see 1,904, Eden will see 926; South Lakeland will see 2,294 and Barrow-in-Furness will see 1,802.

The numbers are also the LGA’s estimate for the number of jobs needed to reach net zero carbon with 170,601 green jobs across the North West by 2050.

But Cllr Moore said that the estimate for Copeland is “well short of our vision.”

He said: “Our ambitions are still optimistic for the fusion reactor which would create thousands of jobs and is clearly green energy.”

Moorside, neighbouring Sellafield, has made it to the final five in a competition to find a home for the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s nuclear fusion project.

Cllr Moore said that the reactor would be more than just a prototype: “It’s designed as a demonstration facility, if that’s successful, it could run for decades producing very cheap clean energy.”

The Moorside site could also be in-line for Small Modular Reactors as part of the UK Government’s clean energy ambitions.

The UKSMR consortium, comprised of business heavyweights like Rolls Royce, are behind the plans.

Clean energy parks at Sizewell and Hinkeley Point are likely to see the reactors in place first, but supporters of the campaign say that recent commitments from Government are positive news for ambitions in Copeland.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly keen to push clean energy solutions such as nuclear and solar to reduce the UK’s reliance on foreign oil.