Axe coal-fired power plant, green charity demands

THE head of a world environmental charity has called on Scottish ministers to block plans for a controversial new coal-fired power station.

The WWF international president, Yolanda Kakabadse, said "the eyes of the world are on Scotland", as SNP ministers prepare to make a decision on the power station at Hunterston, Ayrshire.

The call from the Ecuador-based charity boss came as nearly 10,000 people from 100 countries wrote to the Scottish Government opposing the scheme.

Ms Kakabadse's intervention comes days before the end of a public consultation on the issue.

She said: "When Scotland's world-leading climate laws were passed it was rightly hailed as a great example for the world to follow.

"Plans for coal-fired power plants that do not capture all the emissions from day one, put that leadership in question.

"The eyes of the world are watching and hoping Scotland will reject this proposal and continue to show climate change can't be addressed without vision, policy and action. Scotland must continue to walk the talk."

The Scottish Government, which will be asked to approve the power station, will start to consider the plans when the public consultation ends on 20 August. Christian Aid Scotland also has staged an online campaign asking its supporters to object to the scheme.

Scottish Green Lothians MSP, Robin Harper warned that the power station plans would face a legal challenge if ministers tried to force the scheme through.

He said: "The proposed Hunterston plant has been dogged by controversy from the start, and ministers will face a possible judicial review if they try to force it through. Let's not waste everyone's time and taxpayers' money. The game is up for new coal plants in Scotland."

The Scottish Government said it would consider any objections to the power station.

A government spokesman said: "All representations on the Hunterston application will be carefully considered by Ministers once the consultation closes.

"We are acting to make Scotland a world leader in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and, alongside the UK, have the strongest CCS policy in the EU.

"We are also preparing further guidance on the extent of the need for new thermal generation in light of recent developments in our renewables potential."

Ayrshire Power defended the plans for the scheme, which it said would be a major boost for Scotland's energy industry.

A company spokesman said: ""This is a project of international significance and it is important that members of the public have the opportunity to express their views and we are pleased that they are doing so".

"This is a fantastic opportunity to establish Scotland as the location for one of the first commercial scale carbon capture and storage facilities by pioneering technology which will be essential in achieving low carbon power from fossil fuels.