Biomass developer holds talks on chimney climbdown

Published on Thursday 11 August 2011 17:56

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a giant £360 million biomass plant in Leith could be scaled back because of the extent of public opposition.

More than 1000 objections have been lodged with the Scottish Government from members of the public, politicians and Scottish Natural Heritage - and developer Forth Energy is now understood to be "revisiting" its original plans in order to see if it can reduce the level of local concern.

Bosses at the company - a joint venture between Edinburgh-based Forth Ports and Scottish and Southern Energy - are in the process of analysing objections lodged during the consultation and will then decide whether they can make modifications to address some of the concerns.

But they said today that they remain committed to creating the 200-megawatt plant, which could create between 500 and 700 jobs during construction.

One council source said: "Forth Ports say they wish to continue to work with the council on this.

"Whilst they are committed to biomass, they recognise that there are widespread objections so I think they are revisiting the biomass plans to see if they have to be the scale they were previously."

It is anticipated that the facility will be able to provide renewable energy for 54 per cent of the Capital's electricity needs.

But most of the fuel - in the form of wood chip - will come from forests in North America, which has led to criticism from environmental groups.

More than 1400 people have signed an online petition run by the "No Leith Biomass Plant" campaign.

A spokesman for Forth Energy said: "As previously indicated, Forth Energy is in the process of considering the feedback it has received on its plans to bring renewable heat and power to the Port of Leith.

"It is too early to say what the outcome of this process will be."

Sally Millar, a spokeswoman for the No Leith Biomass Plant campaign, said developers should not expect "opposition to melt away" just because they had downsized.

She said: "However big or small the plant is, it will still release dangerous emissions. And the green credentials of a plant which burns trees to produce energy will be just as suspect."

If given the go-ahead, the facility could be up and running by the end of 2015.

There are concerns, however, about the scale of the plant - it will include a 120-metre high chimney. NHS Lothian has said a fuller assessment of the public health impacts will need to be carried out if the plant is to be approved.