Council rejects plans for new coal-fired power station at Hunterston
An artists impression of the proposed Ayrshire Power plant at Hunterston
NORTH Ayrshire council has rejected controversial proposals for a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston.
A public inquiry will now be held before ministers make the final decision on whether to approve the proposed scheme.
Environmental campaigners welcomed the council’s decision and called on developers Ayrshire Power to drop their proposal.
However, the company vowed to fight on with their plan to build what would be the first new coal-fired power station to be constructed since the 1970s.
North Ayrshire councillors made their decision at a special meeting today.
Council leader David O’Neill said: “North Ayrshire is in urgent need of new jobs - but not at any cost.
“We have the highest unemployment rate in Scotland and appreciate that a new power station at Hunterston would create new jobs.
“However, we cannot ignore the adverse impact this development could have on the area.
“Councillors at today’s meeting recognised the strength of public feeling on the plans and expressed concern that the facility would not capture 100% of carbon emissions from day one.
“They also highlighted the lack of sufficient information on the impact on human health and the effects the development would have on the local environment.
“We now ask that the Scottish Government hold a public inquiry if they intend to approve the application.”
Ayrshire Power, owned by Peel Energy, said the proposed coal and biomass fuel station at Hunterston could meet the needs of up to three million homes, would employ up to 1,600 people at the height of construction and around 160 once the site is up and running.
The plant would use carbon capture and storage technology, which removes CO2 emissions and pipes the gas underground.
The company said it was disappointed at the council’s decision but remained “determined” to progress the application through the planning process.
Mike Claydon, project manager for Ayrshire Power Ltd (APL), said: “The Ayrshire Power project represents a significant economic opportunity for Scotland and, in particular, for North Ayrshire, and would attract in excess of £3 billion of investment, delivering hundreds of new jobs for the region and a range of other economic benefits.
“The successful development of carbon capture and storage technology at Hunterston would enable Scotland to lead the world in the deployment of this essential capability and to secure the economic benefits that would result from it.”
He added: “We believe the Ayrshire Power plan to be consistent with Scottish Government policy, which calls for a diverse mix of electricity generating capacity, including coal-fired power stations fitted with carbon capture and storage, to ensure energy security and to provide back-up to intermittent renewable sources.
“We remain 100% committed to delivering this project and we believe it is essential to ensuring the security of Scotland’s future energy supply.”
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Comments
There are 16 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
Leisure_suit_Larry
Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 07:46 PMThe lunatics are beginning to take over the asylum and the clocks are striking thirteen in la la land. The Roman empire died not by invasion but by it's own decadence.. think about it. We allow ourselves to be trodden on by groups who ten years ago were considered "nutjobs". Our energy policy is being dictated by unrepresentative , unelected far-left groups who together would muster no more than 1% at a General Election. It is made even worse by the fact that the ringleaders (e.g Dixon, WWF) are almost entirely incomers . You couldn't make it up.
tested
Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 04:28 PMI take it #13 is also a fake . Nobody's that naive.
Geomac
Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 03:20 PMI wondder how many of the 21k objectors are North Ayrshire residents and how many are members of the numerous green and environmental fanatical organisations? #13 EH - your talking like a politician or even as a spokesperson for Scottish Renewables!!
Electric Hermit
Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 01:39 AM#12 How? we're doing so well living off 100% wind... tidal and wave power. It's as if fossil fuels never existed, I mean why would the current administration want to expand manky coal and CO2 rich sources of power? Perhaps they do not have a global warming plan? Gas and Oil are the road to ruin, ultimately they will blame power companies to keep your Gran warm, but the blame lies at their door!
іmmigrantwoman
Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 12:29 AMWE need nuclear power. The SNP know it but are scared to admit it.
Castaway
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 10:35 PM“We have the highest unemployment rate in Scotland and appreciate that a new power station at Hunterston would create new jobs" Think ahead with Hunterson B nuclear power station, North Ayrshire which has a staff of approx 650 due to close in 2016, the unemployment rate will go even higher.
Lachie Mhor
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 09:39 PMWill Ayrshire now remove themselves from the National Grid on the off chance that the electricty that theyreceive was generated by a coal fired power station or a nuclear model. They obviously have the technology to differentiate between green power and other types. In the event of blackouts will they resort to carbonless candles. Obviously a bunch of merchant bankers in the council.
waspy100
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 08:56 PMThe people of Ayrshire better buy a generator or get the candles out. Backward thinking does not even come into it.
jerrymanders
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 08:28 PMIs the coal coming from Poland or Columbia? If so, bin the project. There must be other sites elsewhere in the country that aren't so important to nature?
Exiled Leither
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 08:14 PMThis is one of the worst decisions ever made. These matters should be reserved for central government either at Holyrood or Westminster where politicians can see the bigger picture. I spent a good few months on a project in central California in late 2000 and I can tell you rolling blackouts are not good for business or public safety! Without renewal of conventional power supply that is what we will get, blackouts!
tested
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 07:53 PMListened to the piece from the RSPB spokeswoman on Radio Scotland today. looks like they are the latest wildlife charity to reinvent themselves as pseudo political eco warriors. A lot of talk about how we should be investing in renewables instead of coal. I take it she was including the bird slicing windmills when she was havering on about renewables. Shortly afterwards there was a piece about a rescued sea eagle that the RSPB were trying to release into the wild, the only drawback was that they had failed to notice that the bird couldn't fly. I think they should concentrate on birds and leave "saving the planet" to those who know what they are talking about.
wpd
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 07:44 PMSorry, #4 was intended for Mr Sumogic at #1.
wpd
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 07:43 PMApart from he bit on nuclear power, which we will need for some time, very well said.
footdee
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 06:58 PMOnce again the labour proves itself the keep Scotland poor party.
Deleted
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 06:52 PMI'm shocked by this decision. Not by the outcome but by the fact that North Ayrshire Council have actually made a decsion. they make the Judean Peoples Front look like procrastinators at the best of times. Personally I would like to see offshore wind and Wave power down at Hunterston
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