Forth Energy confirms plan to submit biomass application
Formal plans to build a biomass plant at the port of Dundee will be submitted to the Scottish Government next month.
An artist's impression of how the Dundee biomass plant would look, if approved.
- By Graeme Ogston
- Published in the Courier : 21.07.10
- Published online : 21.07.10 @ 08.29am
Forth Energy, the firm behind the proposal, confirmed its intention in the wake of a new independent study which said the plant would have "no significant effects" on air quality in the city.
The amount of energy generated requires the application to be made to Scottish ministers rather than Dundee City Council.
The proposal has drawn fierce criticism from campaigners who claim the plant will have a detrimental environmental impact on the city.
A statement from Forth Energy said, "An application for consent under the Electricity Act for the renewable energy plant will be submitted to Scottish ministers next month, and if approved the plant will generate enough electricity for more than 80% of Dundee's needs."
The statement said there would be a "number of advantages" for Dundee in addition to the "significant contribution" the plant would make towards meeting the Scottish Government's targets for renewable energy construction.
It said, "This includes the generation of around 300 construction and 40 operational jobs directly associated with the plant.
"It is expected that the development could also offer additional port employment relating to the shipping and handling of the fuel and other potential contracting opportunities in the area."
Consultants Sinclair Knight Merz have carried out an independent study into the plant, which would be fuelled predominantly by wood chip and other biomass fuels such as energy crops and recovered timber.
"Sinclair Knight Merz's study has shown that Forth Energy's proposed renewable energy plant at Dundee will have no significant impact on air quality," Forth Energy added.
Members of protest group Residents Against Tayside Turbines (RATTs) -- who oppose the biomass plant in addition to Forth Energy's plans for two wind turbines in nearby Stannergate -- met Dundee SNP MSPs Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick this week to highlight their concerns.
A statement issued by RATTs following the two-hour meeting said the SNP was playing a "dangerous game" in believing the "dangerous propaganda put out by the likes of Forth Energy."
It said, "RATTs members stated that whilst they applaud the principles behind the SNP drive to bring much needed manufacturing jobs to the city, they were disappointed by the apparent naivety which may leave the city with the legacy of a waterfront scarred for generations to come with no immediate, or future jobs boost.
"Our concern as a group, is that our waterfront will be blighted by an enormous, extremely ugly building, taller than Tayside House, accompanied by a 300 foot high smoking gun."
A spokesman for Ms Robison and Mr FitzPatrick said the meeting had been private and declined to comment.
03.57am - 23.07.2010 Jerry Toy - Dundee, uk Report This
I think Dundee City Council have gone stark raving mad. On one hand spending millions to 'improve' the waterfront (I use that term loosely) on the other, considering Forth Ports construction of both wind turbines and a biomass plant - distinctly unattractive. Other areas lie empty and abandoned.
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