Business secretary John Hutton backs coal power
Monday, 10 Mar 2008 16:11
John Hutton has expressed his support for coal power
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Business secretary John Hutton has indicated his backing for coal power as part of the UK's future energy supply.
In a speech in London today Mr Hutton said fossil fuels are a "key source" of energy and argued other options cannot supply the UK alone.
He added that coal power could play a role while the UK seeks to reduce its carbon emissions.
"For critics, there's a belief that coal-fired power stations undermine the UK's leadership position on climate change," he said. "In fact the opposite is true."
His comments come as the government is due to decide whether to give its backing to build Britain's first new coal-fired power station in over 20 years, at Kingsnorth in Kent.
Approval was given by Medway council in January for the power station, which would be built by E.on and consist of two generating units.
Commenting on Mr Hutton's speech, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the Kingsnorth station, if approved, must be low carbon.
"Kingsnorth should not be given the go ahead unless carbon capture and storage is part of it from day one," he said.
"If ministers really want to take the lead on tackling climate change they must concentrate on promoting renewable power, increasing energy efficiency and dramatically accelerating the development of carbon capture and storage."
Environmental campaigners have expressed their disapproval of the proposed build.
The RSPB said coal-fired power stations such as Kingsnorth should be delayed until facilities exist to store their carbon emissions underground.
Ruth Davis, head of climate change policy at the RSPB, said: "Plans to store carbon dioxide from plants like Kingsnorth are one thing but having the technology to do so is quite another, and still a long way off.
"What is the point of claiming to lead action to tackle climate change, introducing the world's first climate change legislation, then sanctioning much greater use of the dirtiest energy source there is?"
