Campaigners call on Scottish government to scrap dirty coal in Scotland.

Responding to the news that plans for a new coal fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent have been put on hold, environment and development organisations in Scotland have called for plans for a new coal plant at Hunterston in Ayrshire to be dropped.

Research undertaken by independent energy analysts Garrad Hassan, and recently published by the organisations, shows that Scotland can meet or exceed its electricity needs without such additional thermal power stations.

Liz Murray, Head of Scottish Campaigns for the World Development Movement, who are campaigning to stop new coal plants at Kingsnorth and Hunterston, said:

“The fact that E.ON is postponing its plans for the new coal power plant at Kingsnorth should ring alarm bells for the Scottish Government and Danish energy company DONG, who is planning to invest in a similar sized coal plant at Hunterston in Ayrshire.   In the knowledge that its world-leading climate legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020 will mean a continuing drop in demand for carbon intensive energy, the Scottish Government should call a halt to the Hunterston proposal now and focus fully on renewable electricity instead.”

Juliet Swann, Head of Projects and Campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland added:

“Kingsnorth has been a key target for campaigners and this announcement shows how embarrassing that action has been for E.ON and the UK Government. With local opposition growing in Ayrshire, and actions planned in Edinburgh and Copenhagen, the Scottish Government and DONG should be wary of the bad publicity associated with a continued commitment to an unnecessary dirty coal power plant at Hunterston.”

WWF Scotland’s Director, Dr Richard Dixon, said:

“This decision finally exposes the tactic used by some energy companies - that the lights will go out if their new power station plan is not approved - as little more than scaremongering. The research we recently published with others makes it clear that Scotland does not need any new unabated coal-fired power stations. Ministers should take this opportunity to develop a truly sustainable energy strategy that instead harnesses this country’s abundant natural renewable energy resource.”