As some of you may be aware the UK government appears to see that building new coal fired power stations are the answer to the energy gap. This has put the back up of many environmentalists. In a letter to the Sunday Times Robin Webster of Friends of the Earth, Ruth Davis of the RSPB, Keith Allcott of WWF UK and Robin Oakley of Greenpeace UK voiced their opinion.
They point out that the Royal Society, the House of Commons environmental audit committee, both main opposition parties and the world’s leading climate change scientists have argued against new coal power stations. The authors ask that renewable energy should be used to secure our energy and cut our carbon emissions. We have already seen how the UK is dependent on coal, oil and gas from other countries so it is important that as an island we are more self sufficient with our energy.
The letter goes on to show that a study by Poyry an energy analyst firm outlines that if the government delivers on its existent commitments for energy efficiency and renewable energy then no new coal or gas stations are needed even on days with wind. Seems slightly odd then that they would want to build more coal powered stations. What is the theory behind this?
Lastly the writers point out that the government has a stark choice to make- they either ‘push ahead with coal fueled power stations in the face of opposition or they can deliver on efficiency by building a sustainable, thriving, renewable energy industry for Britain.’ We know which way we want them to go…..
