Communities Opposed to New Coal at Hunterston
External links for more information
See also:
pages on health, human rights, the environment, coal mining accidents and alternatives.
Scottish Climate Change Law (pdf)
Clare Symonds (Planning Democracy) explains the planning process and what we can do
TheyWorkForYou.com (re Scottish Parliament debates)
15th September: Members' business debate on motion S3M-6923, in the name of Ross Finnie, on Hunterston—not the way forward for carbon captureHunterston Power Station (Carbon Capture)
The Arran Voice
Lucy Wallace puts the case against a coal-fired plant at Hunterston
Dong tolls the knell for Hunterston coalBig Issue Scotland
Coal expansion plans condemnedChristian Aid
A new coal-fired power station is being planned at Hunterston in Ayrshire. If built, this plant will be a major source of greenhouse gas emissions for many years.
Carbon emissions cause climate change, one of the greatest challenges facing people living in poor countries. Yet they have done nothing to contribute to the problem.Poor people need action on climate change and they need action on poverty. If they had help to gain access to new low carbon sources of energy, they could tackle both of these problems.
The World Bank is currently reviewing the way it undertakes this work. Suffice to say, so far we've not been impressed. Its funding for coal power stations has soared 40-fold over the last five years to hit a record high of £2.8 billion in 2010. However, such plants are focussed on fuelling big business, rather than providing the cheap, renewable energy people living in poverty need.
Ask Andrew Mitchell, UK development secretary, to help get the World Bank out of fossil fuels.
Church of Scotland
The Kirk has concerns about the likely increase in carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the power plant. The church believes that any such increase in emissions will make the national targets of Scotland's Climate Change Act difficult if not impossible to achieve.
Coal-fired power station ignites Kirk's concerns over Scotland's carbon footprintChurch's letter to the Scottish Government objecting to the proposal
Coal Action Scotland
News, views and action from communities and campaigns against new coal in Scotland
New Hunterston Coal-Fired Power Station – as transparent as a coal seamNae Coal at Hunterston
The Ecologist
Campaign groups including RSPB challenge decision not to allow environmental objections to a new coal-fired power station in North Ayrshire
Locals 'unable' to oppose Scottish coal power stationFor Argyll
Hunterston coal station proposal
Never forget Ayrshire Power is Peel Ports is ClydeportFriends of the Earth Scotland
Ten reasons to object to HunterstonThe proposed coal-fired powerstation at Hunterston is a financial liability for Scotland, a slap in the face for global justice, and a major threat to biodiversity. Oh, and it’s fundamentally incompatible with the government’s target to cut carbon emissions by 42% by 2020. No wonder it’s unpopular.
Say No to HunterstonCampaigners have slammed Ayrshire Power on the day they lodge a formal application for what would be the UK's first coal power station to be built since 1974.
Hunterston coal threatens communities at home and abroadNew Scottish Government report concedes that less 'thermal power' will be needed that previously assumed. It suggests "there is no current need for an increase in overall thermal capacity" and that by 2030 only 2.5GW of thermal capacity would be needed. Longannet alone is 2.4GW, and Peterhead up to 1.6GW. Both plants have announced plans to retrofit carbon capture and storage technology. As a result the document appears to signal that the Hunterston and Cockenzie proposals for additional thermal capacity are unnecessary, and that such proposals will no longer be included as national developments in the National Planning Framework.
Hunterston coal fired power station not neededThe proposed power station at Hunterston would be a disaster for the climate, for biodiversity and
for the health and prosperity of communities, both here in Scotland and abroad. The good news is
that we don't need it.
By investing in renewable grid infrastructure, we can keep the lights on,
boost employment, and lead the world towards fossil free electricity generation.
Greenpeace
The promise of carbon capture and storage (CCS) – a technology which would involve capturing carbon emissions from power stations and burying them underground – began to be used as a smokescreen to justify the building of new coal-fired power plants, which in reality were as dirty as ever.
CCS technology won’t be ready at a commercial scale for years, and we still don’t really know if CCS will ever be a safe and viable solution, so it would be wrong to rely on this technology to save the climate. In the meantime, coal plants will continue to pump out vast amounts of climate damaging greenhouse gases.
Guardian Newspaper
Energy companies will only have to fit CCS technology to a third of coal plants, rather than two-thirds under the original plans.The Conservatives are set to break a key pre-election pledge on the environment and allow new coal plants to pump far bigger quantities of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
As a recently as October last year, in a key note speech to environmentalists, David Cameron promised to introduce rules requiring new power stations to be as clean as a modern gas plant.
But the Guardian has learned that ministers are planning to raise the limit on emissions to almost double that amount when the government publishes wide-ranging proposals on reforming the electricity market next month.
Other bids to trap CO2 have failed. But a project in Fife could still transform the use of fossil fuel.
Engineers are testing equipment for Britain's first full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) device. The lessons learned on this windswept corner of Fife will be used to design a full-scale machine that could turn coal-burning power plants into eco-friendly generating stations.
The Church of Scotland claims a new coal-fired power station planned in Ayrshire could seriously jeopardise attempts to combat climate change, despite its claims to use the latest clean-coal technology. The church has joined a coalition of environment groups opposing plans to construct the 1852MW station at Hunterston on the west coast of Scotland, which has seen about 14,000 objections submitted from across the UK and beyond.
Church of Scotland makes stand against coal power station 20 Aug 2010Unfortunately, there is enough cheap coal around to power ever-higher emissions for at least another century. The world will thus certainly become much warmer. The only uncertainty is how much warmer that will be.
Coal: The cheap, dirty and direct route to irreversible climate change 6 Aug 2010Ayrshire Power's proposal to build the £3bn carbon capture plant contains 'serious errors', green groups say
'Sloppy' errors in coal-power station plans, say campaigners 8 June 2010Development would affect a legally protected site in western Scotland that provides a rare refuge for wading birds, otters and insects
Hunterston power station plans threaten key mud flat habitat£3bn coal power plant will test strength of Ed Miliband's environment rules
New plant in Scotland will have to prove that carbon capture technology works 12 March 2010My country's resistance to nuclear energy is easy to understand, but its alternative is baffling
Scotland powered by patriotic flim-flam 14 Nov 2009Rev Ian Galloway
Convenor of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland"I feel great concern about the wisdom of this application and call upon the Scottish Government to do nothing that places its climate change targets at risk."
Another Coal Power StationLargs and Millport Weekly News
North Ayrshire MP Katy Clark has called on the Scottish Government to extend the public consultation period for Ayrshire Power's application for a new coal power plant at Hunterston.
Consultation fears over coal station projectRob Edwards (Environmental news and comment)
Government-backed plans for a huge new coal plant are running into a rising tide of opposition from a powerful range of groups worried about pollution, wildlife and tourism.
Widespread opposition to new coal plantRSPB
RSPB Scotland is extremely worried about proposals for a new 1852MW (gross output) coal fired
power station at Hunterston in North Ayrshire, and the permanent damage it will cause to the
best remaining inter-tidal mudflats left on the outer Clyde. The additional carbon emissions from
the power station would also seriously compromise Scotland's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and could damage efforts to make Scotland a world leader on climate change.
Scotland's energy needs can be met through well-sited renewables, so building new fossil fuel
power stations simply does not make sense. RSPB Scotland's serious concerns about this proposal
were made clear to the developer at the outset.
The Scottish Government has set a welcome target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by
42% by 2020, leading the world in showing that we are prepared to take action on climate
change. However, it is difficult to see how it can entertain proposals for new coal generating
capacity if it hopes to achieve these targets.
Campaign page opposing the Hunterston Coal Station
Campaign with us - HunterstonHunterston and Southannan Sands is the largest mudflat on the Ayrshire coast, and is a very significant area of intertidal habitat nestled within an otherwise rocky coastline. In 1971, it was designated as part of the Portencross Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Also, if consented, the additional emissions resulting from the plant have the potential to seriously undermine Government's sustainable development and CO2 reduction commitments.
Hunterston Power StationToday, developers are planning to build a huge coal-fired power station at Hunterston. If built, this would have a devastating impact on one of the best areas for wildlife on the Firth of Clyde and destroy a huge part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Say No to Hunterston (Facebook)Scotland Against New Coal (SANC)
Plans for new coal at HunterstonThe Scotsman
Scotland's two leading environmental agencies have raised serious concerns about proposals for a new coal-fired power station to be built in Ayrshire.
Fears voiced over new coal power station at HunterstonThe head of a world environmental charity has called on Scottish ministers to block plans for a controversial new coal-fired power station.
Axe coal-fired power plant, green charity demandsThe Times
Plans for a “green” coal-fired power station in Ayrshire, the first in the UK with carbon capture technology, are to be lodged with the Scottish government today. Environmentalists are outraged by the scheme which, if it gets the go-ahead, will the first new fossil-fuel power station in Scotland since 1973, when Lognannet in Fife was built.
Carbon-capture powerstation planned for HunterstonScottish Wildlife Trust
Hunterston coal-fired power station gets overwhelming rejection from the public
Thumbs down for polluting power plantWildfowl, waders, and nationally important eelgrass beds could all suffer detrimental impacts and even irreversible destruction if plans to develop a new coal-fired power station in the west of Scotland are given the green light, the Scottish Wildlife Trust stressed
The Scottish Wildlife Trust says ‘NO’ to more SSSI damageSEPA - Scotland's Environment Protection Agency
SEPA is the public body tasked with protecting and reporting on the state of the environment of Scotland. We do this by regulating activities that can cause pollution, by monitoring the quality of Scotland’s air, land and water and by working to enable those we regulate to comply with the legislation.
Response to Ayrshire Power's Proposals (click on link to download pdf file)Stop Climate Chaos coalition
Decision to scrap Kingsnorth coal fired power station deals serious blow to Hunterston plans
Campaigners call on Scottish government to scrap dirty coal in Scotland.Sunday Herald/The Herald
The man behind Peel is a billionaire tax exile backed by Saudi oil money.
Unmasked: the billionaire tax-exile behind Hunterston coal planCCS may be part of a future energy supply of a mix of technolgies for a secure, low-carbon future, and Scotland should be in the forefront of its development, but it would make more sense to fit it to existing coal-fired facilities rather than pressing ahead with new ones on the back of expectation.
Is new coal-fired power plant a gamble worth taking?World Development Movement
WDM objects to Ayrshire Power's planning application to build a new coal power station at Hunterston in Scotland. Scotland's climate debt to developing countries will only worsen.
Formal objection to the proposed coal-fired power station (pdf)Worldwide Fund for Nature
Hunterston Coal fired power station proposal – climate campaigners reactYouTube video of the Hunterston area
"Hunterston, by the Firth of Clyde, is a coastal area in North Ayrshire, Scotland, which was the seat and estate of the Hunter family. As an area of flat land adjacent to deep natural water, it has been the site of considerable actual and proposed industrial development in the 20th century. The power station is currently being decommisioned and it is proposed to build a coal fired station in its place. This film taken at sunset affords views of the Island of Arran and the nearby coastal village of Portencross. The only other building in the area is Hunterston House seen at the end of the film"
Hunterston Nuclear Power Station "A Beauty Spot"
Australian Greens
Coal is not clean and never will beBBC
The Chinese and the Indians are pushing their consumption up very rapidly and production levels are now approaching five billion tonnes a year, which compares with about three billion tonnes at the beginning of the millennium. The increase in China and India is a simple case of raising living standards. These countries are still classified as developing countries.
In India, half the population still has no access to electricity and government policy is firmly fixed on ensuring that they are connected to the grid at some stage in the next 10-20 years. Coal is the cheapest and most available fuel which will enable that.
Christian Aid
No more dirty coalCenter for American Progress Action Fund
In a groundbreaking article to be released this month in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Dr. Paul Epstein, associate director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, details the economic, health and environmental costs associated with each stage in the life cycle of coal – extraction, transportation, processing, and combustion.
Total harm from coalHealth, environmental damage could triple cost of power
The Coal Hole
Information about coal in the UK, and all the great things people are doing to take a stand against it.
There's a big black hole in UK climate policy...Coal in the UK
Mapping new coal all across Britain
General Information about the use of coal in the UKColumbia University: Mailman School of Public Health
Letter to Gordon Brown about the links between coal power and climate change (pdf)“Coal-fired generation is historically responsible for most of the CO2 in the air today - responsible for about half of all carbon dioxide emissions globally”
NASA Goddard Institute
for Space Studies
The Herald
Experts warn that coal-fired power stations will wreck Holyrood’s climate change targets
Power plans up in smoke?Independent on Sunday
The threat of global warming is so great that campaigners were justified in causing more than £35,000 worth of damage to a coal-fired power station, a jury decided yesterday.
Jury decides that threat of global warming justifies breaking the lawMIT
The prestigious Massachusetts Institue of Technology has an entire web site devoted to capture carbon techonolgies. Academic and extensive.The Carbon Capture and Sequestration Technologies Program @ MIT
New Scientist
"As for the dream of coal becoming a zero-emissions source of power - forget it."
Can coal live up to its clean promise?No new coal
Stop a whole generation of dirty powerStop Climate Chaos Coalition
A group of people dedicated to action on climate change and limiting its impact on the world's poorest communities. They demand practical action by the UK to prevent global warming rising beyond the 2°C danger threshold.
Quit dirty coal
Bad week for coal
TEAR Fund
Stop new coal power stations in the UK
Take action to stop new coal power stations now!Time
The "clean coal" campaign was always more PR than reality — currently there's no economical way to capture and sequester carbon emissions from coal, and many experts doubt there ever will be.
Exposing the Myth of Clean Coal Power
Environmental Law Centre
The Environmental Law Centre Scotland LtdFriends of the Earth
Coal (a good introduction)Greenpeace
How people and the planet are paying the price for the world's dirtiest fuel
The True Cost of Coal (pdf; the full skinny: 92 pages, detailled but very readable)Kids4CleanAir
Super site on all sorts of air pollution issues for young people
Clean Air Kids: air qualityNational Planning Framework
“There is enormous potential to increase the generation of electricity from renewable sources during the next two decades so that by 2030 renewable energy can meet between 60% and 143% of Scotland's projected annual electricity demand.”
The Power of Scotland Renewed
Planning Democracy
Information about Planning DemocracyThe Power of Scotland Renewed
Joint document from WDM, RSPB, FoE and WWF
Power of Scotland Summary (pdf, 1.12Mb)38 Degrees
"38 Degrees is a new organisation which brings you together with other people to take action on the issues that matter to you and bring about real change in the UK."
About 38 DegreesScottish Government
This report sets out the Scottish Government's latest position on the role of renewable electricity and fossil fuel thermal generation (coal, gas, oil) in Scotland's future energy mix. It gives a clear view on the need for both rapid expansion of renewable electricity across Scotland and the underlying requirement for new efficient thermal capacity in this low carbon generation portfolio. It is based on the latest research studies on future energy supply, storage and demand, and takes account of the changing policy context in Scotland, the UK and the EU since the 2nd National Planning Framework was published in June 2009.
Scotland – A Low Carbon Society (pdf) Draft Electricity Generation Policy Statement 2010Energy Consents Unit
STOP
Campaign opposing Scottish Coal’s plans to mine an extra 5.4 million tonnes of coal over at least a 10 year period from Glentaggart East (4 million tonnes), Auldton Heights (420,000 tonnes) and the Northern Extension to Broken Cross (1 million tonnes), as well as their plans to mine Happendon Wood and land West of Poniel as part of their “mixed use development”.
Stop The Opencast Plans
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