Scottish Parliament Rejects Hunterston Plans

There was some rather interesting developments in the Scottish Parliament late last night with regards to energy policy. During a debate on Climate Change (the minutes of which can be read here), Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) chose to back calls to reject plans for a coal-fired power station at Hunterston in North Ayrshire. Labour and the Liberal Demorcrats backed a Green motion against the development which was announced on Monday. The developers of the plant have agrued that the power station to provide low carbon energy to 3 million homes for decades to come. If the plant were to be built it would be the UKs first to use  carbon capture and storage technology, the viability of which remains highly debateable. Despite this vote the plant could still be built as Ministers considering the application can ignore the vote in Parliament.

Carbon Capture and Storage process

How would you vote on this power plant? Should it go ahead?

There is more on this issue on the BBC website.

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The Beauly to Denny Power Line Issue

As we would say in Scotland, an ‘almighty rammy’ has predicatably broken out over the decision by the Scottish Government to give the go-ahead to the building of a 137 mile power line connecting Beauly in the North of the country to Denny (near Falkirk) in Central Scotland.

This has been a rather confusing one for the eco-conscious – which is the bigger issue long-term climate change? or preserving the physical landscape? – interestingly, Friends of the Earth came down on the side of Climate Change, arguing that the effects of this were potentially much greater than that of constructing the power lines.

It is also being argued strongly by some that possible alternatives such as underground or undersea lines were not given adequate consideration during the planning process.

But there we have it, the decision has been made and Scotland is going to have to live with it.

What are your thoughts on the Beauly – Denny issue?

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Welsh Government Invests £34m to cut carbon emissions

In line with the Scottish Goverment’s recent announcement that it was investing in a Scottish and Southern Energy and University of Strathclyde project Centre for Renewable Energy Excellence (CEERE) in Glasgow – the Welsh Government has come out and backed a similar scheme. The Low Carbon Research Institute (LCRI). This is a Welsh university research project led by the Cardiff University’s School of Architecture.

This intriguing project aims to help businesses in Wales develop innovative carbon reduction projects and meet strict carbon emission targets.

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