Kingsnorth power plant plan shelved
Environmental protesters are celebrating after the energy company E.on announced that a new coal power station is not currently required in the UK.
The German company had been pursuing plans to build the controversial plant in Kent but due to the decreasing demand for electricity because of the recession it has changed its decision.
It said the UK will not need another power station until around 2016.
An E.on spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that we expect to defer an investment decision on the Kingsnorth proposals for up to two to three years.
“This is based on the global recession, which has pushed back the need for new plant in the UK to around 2016 because of the reduction in demand for electricity.
“As a group, we remain committed to the development of cleaner coal and carbon capture and storage (CCS), which we believe have a key role to play alongside renewables, gas and nuclear, in tackling the global threat of climate change while ensuring affordability and security of energy supplies.”
The firm had not yet received Government permission for the plan.
The announcement has been welcomed by protesters, who last year staged a big Camp for Climate Change at the Kingsnorth site.
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Readers' comments (2)
Anonymous | 8-Oct-2009 10:44 am
Good old Government Propaganda eh?
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Anonymous | 8-Oct-2009 11:07 am
Wonderful - so when we emerge from the recession and demand for power increases the electicity providers can simply charge more money for a dwindling supply. This is exactly what happens when strategic decisions that effect the entire country are abrogated by the legislature and left to "market forces". When the lights go out you'll be able to hear the environmentalists chearing into the night.
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