No to SA1 power plant
Plaid AM Dr. Dai Lloyd has labelled a proposed wood burning power plant ‘unsustainable’ and has called for the development of a truly sustainable energy in the form of tidal energy in Swansea Bay.
Swansea Council’s Planning Committee will decide the fate of the proposed plant at King’s Dock in SA1 on Thursday.
Dr. Lloyd stated:
“I appreciate that the wood burning power plant emits less carbon dioxide emissions than its fossil fuel competitors, but it will nonetheless contribute towards CO2 emissions and global warming.
“At a time when most scientists are agreed that we need to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions significantly, I believe that this move would be a retrograde step.
“I do not for one minute buy into this notion that these wood burning power plants are sustainable. They are anything but. There is no doubt that this plant will burn wood at a faster rate than the trees which service it will grow, and so, by definition, in the long run, the plant is very much un-sustainable.
“Add to that the fact that 75 percent of the wood will be imported from Texas and Alaska and this project becomes even less attractive in terms of sustainability.”
Dr, Lloyd also objects to the proposed scheme on the grounds of its location.
Dr. Lloyd added:
“The Welsh Assembly Government and local authority have put a lot of time, effort and finance into developing the old docks area. SA1 is now beginning to take shape as a business and tourism venue. Building a power plant at this location, would, I believe undo a lot of the good work that has been done up until now.
“The Swansea Bay area already suffers from high levels of population due to the Port Talbot steel works, gas fired power station and waste incinerator at Crymlyn Burrows. We do not need another polluting plant in this area.
“It is a fact that Wales is a net exporter of energy. In other words, we produce enough energy to sustain us already, and have more than our fair share of nuclear, wind, gas and other plants.
“I would much prefer to see the development of tidal energy in Swansea Bay than this polluting, unsustainable alternative.”
