The Scottish Government has been urged to reject plans for a new “climate-wrecking” gas-fired power station in Aberdeenshire.
More than 13,000 people have signed a petition opposing the proposals at Peterhead, which activists have called “dangerous and unnecessary”.
Friends of the Earth (FoE) Scotland, which handed the petition in to St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh on Monday, said the new site would see households locked into paying expensive energy bills set by international markets.
Pumped
The group said it would also undermine the transition to renewable energy and extend the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels for another 25 years.
The current planning application proposes expanding the existing site with a new 910 megawatt gas-burning power station.
Environmental groups say the existing power plant in the region is already Scotland’s biggest polluter.
SSE, which wants to develop the site alongside Equinor, has said carbon capture technology could slash emissions from the power station by as much as 90 per cent.
It plans to send greenhouse gases generated from the site to St Fergus where they would be pumped into depleted oil wells about 50 miles offshore in the North Sea.
Sky-high
FoE said carbon capture on such a scale “has not been proven” and said there were “serious concerns” about its safety.
Freya Aitchison, a campaigner with the environmental organisation, urged the Scottish Government to focus on renewable projects instead.
She said: “The Scottish Government is already failing on its climate targets, but instead of stepping up and taking climate action, it is considering approving this hugely polluting new power station.
“Another gas plant at Peterhead will increase climate-wrecking emissions and keep the Scottish public locked into sky-high energy bills for decades to come.
Renewable
“Thousands of people are supporting this campaign and telling ministers to reject this controversial development and instead focus on the solutions that we know work, such as publicly owned renewable energy.
“Carbon capture has a lengthy record of failure and is a dangerous distraction from the real work of reducing emissions and delivering a just transition for workers and communities.”
Tommy Vickerstaff, 350.org UK lead who co-hosted the petition, added: “Increasing the investment and capacity of Scotland’s number one polluter is dangerous and unnecessary.
“We urge the Scottish Government to reject these obsolete proposals and instead fund and support incredible renewable energy opportunities that are waiting to be unlocked across Scotland.
Target
“Guaranteed retraining and support for Scotland’s existing oil and gas workers must also be part of these investments.”
Earlier this year, ministers scrapped their 2030 target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75%, admitting it was unlikely to succeed.
Climate campaigners have warned that the new power station in Peterhead would further risk the current 2045 target for net zero emissions.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on a live planning application.
“A decision will be taken by ministers in due course, following consideration of the application information, consultation responses and representations made by members of the public.”
SSE and Equinor have been approached for comment.
This Author
Craig Meighan is the PA Scotland political reporter.