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Friends of the Earth claims report proves case for renewable energy

The environmental pressure group believes Scotland could phase out all conventional thermal power by 2030, maintain a secure electricity supply and generate revenue from renewable exports. This is according to new research by energy consultants Garrad Hassan.

CO₂ doesn't always stay captured

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is controversial for a number of reasons. It's expensive, unproven, and according to researchers at Duke University, there's the troubling possibility that captured carbon could leak into groundwater aquifers, potentially rendering water undrinkable.
The problem with CCS
Environmental Issues page.
Carbon Capture and Storage

The Rainbow
Anti-Coalition

• Christian Aid
• Church of Scotland
• Conch
• Friends of the Earth
• Greenpeace
• RSPB-Scotland
• Scottish Wildlife Trust
• World Development Movement-Scotland
• WWF-Scotland
  
  

Down With Coal

In the United States and Europe, the triple whammy of recession, cheap alternatives, and aggressive anti-coal campaigning has helped halt the expansion of coal use. Since 2004, plans to build more than 150 coal plants in the U.S. have been abandoned. In fact, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), a government agency that analyzes energy-related statistics, predicts continued stagnation or decline in coal-fired electricity generation in the U.S. and the European Union over the coming decades.

The grassroots anti-coal movement goes global

Communities Opposed to New Coal at Hunterston

Public Enquiry Latest

17th May, 2012

Pre-Inquiry Meeting — 13th June 2012

Despite reservations as outlined below, the Pre-Inquiry meeting, which is the start of the public inquiry process, has been confirmed as being held at 2pm on Weds 13th June at Seamill Hydro.
It is important that anyone who wishes to take part in the Public Inquiry attends this meeting. Anyone who would like to find out more about the Public Inquiry process should also come along so they can decide if they wish to take part.
Even if you don't think you want to give evidence at the Public Inquiry,a good turnout of local objectors, to send a strong signal is given to the Public Inquiry Reporter that opposition to the coal station remains high.
Below is some information we have received from the DPEA about the meeting's purpose : "The pre-inquiry meeting on 13 June will be an opportunity to discuss ...submissions about the timing of the inquiry. One of the main purposes of the meeting will be to discuss how objectors can play a full part in the inquiry. Anyone who is unsure whether they want to take part in the inquiry is encouraged to attend the pre-inquiry meeting, so that they can take an informed decision on participation. Although the Reporters will be keen to establish who wishes to take part in the inquiry and the likely scope of their involvement, parties will not have to make a firm commitment to that effect until a later stage in the process. "

11th May, 2012

Pre-inquiry meeting for public inquiry set for June 13th — CONCH highlight concerns in timescales

CONCH held a meeting on 8th May 2012 to discuss the public inquiry and fed the following concerns back to the Reporter:

CONCH is concerned that it would be premature to have the pre-inquiry meeting in June, for two main reasons.

1. Work is ongoing into the implications of the proposal for sites designated
   under the Habitats Regulations. The outcome of this work will also have significant
   implications for the scope of the inquiry and we feel it is inappropriate to
   commence until this work is completed.
2. The significant number of objections and wide range of grounds on which people
   have objected,means that this is a particularly complex and important case. It is
   important that public inquiry processes allow members of the public and local
   community groups who are interested in attending an opportunity to participate.
   Since DPEA's letter dated 27.4.12 has been circulated, CONCH have had large numbers
   of people seeking clarification about how best to respond . A number of people have
   also raised concerns that the suggested time limit of 11 May for responding has been
   unreasonably tight - in many cases just being 7-10 days from the time letters were
   actually received. We have also been advised of people who sent in objections who
   have not had a letter from yourself. We feel that more time should be allowed to
   enable people to make informed decisions about their future participation in the
   inquiry.

We therefore feel that it would be more appropriate to hold the pre-inquiry meeting
at a later date.We appreciate that the DPEA has an unenviable administrative task in
managing this process, but believe a delay at this stage would be beneficial in the
longer run for the smooth administration of the enquiry.

Objectors spell out the message: "21,000 say no to new coal"

New doubts over power plant

The public inquiry into the £3 billion coal-fired power station proposed for Hunterston in Ayrshire has been called into question after a new Scottish Government report rejected the need for additional plants anywhere in the country.

The government's new planning monitoring report, which gives its latest views on planning policy, appears to be at odds with its own national planning framework. While the 2009 framework lists the new Hunterston power station as one of 14 national planning priorities, the new report says it, "sees no energy need to increase the number of thermal power plants". ...

Alan Hill, an SNP councillor at North Ayrshire Council who is against the power station, said the statement in the monitoring report was "welcome news". He said: "It would be good to save taxpayers the expense of an inquiry. Given the 20,000 objectors, the public inquiry is going to be a huge logistical exercise. "In theory they all have the right to speak to the reporter. You could imagine the costs escalating sharply. I would be surprised if it did not end up costing seven figures."

Scotland beats green energy targets

... Statistics published 29th March 2012 show that the amount of renewable electricity generated in 2011 rose 45 per cent on 2010 to 13,750 Gigawatt hours. Assuming gross consumption in 2011 is similar to 2010, that means around 35 per cent of Scotland’s electricity needs came from renewables in 2011, beating the Scottish Government’s target of 31 per cent. ...

Dr Sam Gardner, senior climate change policy officer at WWF Scotland said: "... The projected growth in renewables, coupled with reducing electricity demand and better interconnectors has prompted the Scottish Government to forecast that we don't need an increase in our coal or gas capacity. This should rule out plans for a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston. ..."

Hunterston plans face criticism and support

CONFLICTING views over the proposed new coal-fired plant at Hunterston this week - campaigners Friends Of The Earth say the Scottish Government's energy policy statement is a blow to the plans, while former Scottish Energy Minister Allan Wilson says the statement gives the station a new lease of life.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald 9 March 2012

Peel rejects WWF call to scrap Hunterston plant

WWF today urged Peel to drop its plans for a £3 billion carbon capture and storage enabled 1.6GW coal fired power station at Hunterston. Its call followed Eon's earlier announcement that its coal station at Kingsnorth would cease generating in 2013 and that it had removed its application for two new units at the site that would have been equipped with carbon capture and storage (CCS).

A spokesperson for Peel said Eon's decision was made a long time ago and "was not relevant" to the Hunterston project. He also pointed to the Scottish government's updated energy policy statement, issued last week, which stated that CCS was still in the government's plans.

Council dashes hopes for new ‘clean’ coal-fired power station

Plans for a new “clean” power station at Hunterston were due to be laid out by North Ayrshire Council in its Local Development Plan. But the council voted yesterday to remove all reference to a power station from the planning document.

Energy report hailed as major blow to coal power plans

Environmental campaigners have welcomed a policy statement from the Scottish Government, which they say represents another 'nail in the coffin' for a planned coal-fired power station.

Responding to the publication today of the Future of Scottish Electricity Generation Report, which sets out the Scottish Government's policy on how it plans to meet the country's future electricity needs, Friends of the Earth and WWF Scotland argue that there is now no place for 'massively unpopular' plans by Peel Energy to build a new coal-fired station at Hunterston, Ayrshire.

Amongst other things, the statement confirms the Scottish administration's commitment to supply 100% of the nation's electricity needs from renewable energy and to 'decarbonise' the electricity generation sector by 2030.

Perhaps the most damning statistic contained in the report is the fact that only 2.5GW of thermal generation is required by 2020. Friends of the Earth Scotland have already pointed out that Scotland is currently producing almost twice this amount from three existing power stations at Longannet (2.4GW), Peterhead (1.5GW) and Cockenzie (1GW) alone.

New safety fears for Ayrshire nuclear power station

The company that runs the nuclear reactors at Hunterston in North Ayrshire is warning that their safety could be jeopardised by plans to build a huge coal-fired power station next door.

North Ayrshire Council Say NO

At a meeting, lasting less than 90 minutes, North Ayrshire Councillors voted unanimously to object to Ayrshire Power's plans for a dirty coal-station at Hunterston. Citing concerns over health, environment and climate change, the councillors were also critical of major gaps in information provided by Ayrshire Power and their failure to have credible plans to capture 100% of carbon emissions from the outset. The council also highlighted the need for an independent health impact assessment; emphasised that a public inquiry was needed, given the high level of objections and also disputed that the plans were compatible with the Scottish Government's National Planning Framework.

CONCH are very pleased that the Council has taken note of the concerns of the 21,000 people who have objected and taken on board many of the issues we raised during the evidence we gave to them earlier this month. We would also like to thank our many supporters who have taken time to write to the council as well as the support from environmental groups across Scotland in campaigning against these plans.

North Ayrshire Council's decision gives a very strong signal to the Scottish Government as to how seriously flawed and unpopular Ayrshire Power's plans are. We now want the Scottish Government to show similar leadership and also say no to dirty coal. It is now likely that the plans will go to a public inquiry, but CONCH will continue to campaign for an outright rejection from Scottish Ministers when they come to decide the application over the coming months.

Delighted protesters applaud North Ayrshire Council's unanimous decison to reject
Ayrshire Power's proposal to build a coal-fired power station at Hunterston.

Clean coal costs set to scupper Hunterston power station plan Professor Jon Gibbins, a professor of power plant engineering and carbon capture at Edinburgh University, said that new regulations for coal plants would make it unecomomic for Ayrshire Power’s proposal to go ahead. He believed the controversial plan would be brought down by the same commercial logic that has seen E.ON withdraw its plan for a coal-fired station at Kingsnorth in Kent and seen several other English proposals redrawn towards using gas. Emissions standards tilt economics towards gas generation Jpeg of article

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