Government is 'split' over Leith biomass plant scheme

SCOTTISH Government ministers are split over the controversial proposals for a £360 million biomass plant at Leith docks, it was claimed today.

Environment secretary Richard Lochhead and environment minister Roseanna Cunningham have indicated their support for small-scale biomass plants that produce heat or combined heat and power, as opposed to large-scale electricity-generating power stations like the one planned for Leith.

But First Minister Alex Salmond and finance secretary John Swinney are said to be more sympathetic to the proposed Leith plant, which would have a smokestack 100 metres tall and process up to 1.3 million tonnes of biomass material every year.

Edinburgh North & Leith Labour MSP Malcolm Chisholm said ministers seemed to be sending out conflicting messages over the project, which has sparked huge local opposition.

Last month, a study claimed the plant, billed as an example of green energy, would take at least 40 years to become carbon neutral because new trees would have to be planted to replace those used in the process.

Mr Chisholm asked Ms Cunningham in the Scottish Parliament to ensure the summary of the research was read by her colleagues who have responsibility for energy, and by the First Minister.

Ms Cunningham said Mr Lochhead, speaking last month at a conference on forestry in the low-carbon economy, had highlighted "the particularly important role of relatively small-scale biomass plants that produce heat or combined heat and power".

She added: "Wood supplies from existing forests are finite, so we are keen for Scotland-produced biomass to be utilised mainly for relatively small-scale, heat-only or CHP plants."

Mr Chisholm said a consultation he carried out with hundreds of constituents showed overwhelming opposition to the plant, which is being proposed by Forth Energy, a joint venture by Forth Ports and Scottish and Southern Energy.

He said he hoped the latest research would be "the final nail in the coffin" for the proposal.

He said: "I'm pleased with what Roseanna Cunningham had to say, but the decision on the Leith proposal is nothing to do with her. It is the ministers responsible for energy, John Swinney and Jim Mather, who will make the decision.

"It is important all government ministers send out the same message, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

"I'm told by a source at Forth Ports that the First Minister has been making positive noises about the proposal."

Other sources say Mr Swinney has also appeared sympathetic.

Lothians SNP MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "I'm delighted to see Roseanna Cunningham repeat recent statements which suggest the Scottish Government sees biomass developing as a source of renewable heat rather than electricity, and only on a small local scale. Such a policy would appear totally incompatible with Forth Energy's proposals."