DONG’s pull out of the project wasn’t the end of the matter at Hunterston. A new planning application (expected today) from Ayrshire Power has prompted the following reaction from my colleague, Aedán Smith our head of planning and development in Scotland.
"This is the wrong application for the wrong site in Scotland. Ayrshire power wants to build a hugely polluting, dirty coal-fired power plant on around 30 hectares of the best remaining inter-tidal mudflats left on the Clyde - Home to important populations of ducks and waders.
"With the Scottish Government adopting laudable world-leading climate change legislation to reduce global warming emissions by 42% by 2020, this development application, which would mean a net gain in such polluting emissions, shouldn't even be on the table. Peel Energy should instead be focussing their attention on delivering badly needed renewables to make sure we meet these ambitious targets."He went on: "Recent research has shown that Scotland's energy needs can be fully met using well sited renewables. Until carbon capture technology is completely proven, new coal simply doesn't make sense financially, or environmentally.
"The Scottish Government should be encouraging sustainable applications for renewable developments in the right place. RSPB Scotland will continue to work with other non-government organisations, including WWF and Friends of the Earth Scotland, to ensure that Scotland can achieve its ambitious climate change targets without the risk of causing further damage to the environment.
The expected planning application has led to a flurry of media interest (here and here) indicating the degree of interest in the application – it will test the Scottish Government’s commitment to it’s own emissions reduction targets.
You can help us to say no to dirty coal at Hunterston - the campaign has it's own facebook page, you can help by joining up.