COCKENZIE SHUTDOWN: COMMUNITY MUST HAVE SAY IN FUTURE
East Lothian Greens are calling for the local authority and The Scottish Government to help communities around Cockenzie shape their future following Friday’s shutdown of the coal power station.
East Lothian Greens spoke at a packed public meeting three years ago, warning that local communities were being presented with a false choice and that the plant didn’t have to be replaced by another fossil fuel generator.
Now they say that Cockenzie remains listed in The Scottish Government’s national planning framework as a site for power generation, and in December last year East Lothian councillors agreed to support this position.
Eurig Scandrett, Co-convener of East Lothian Greens, said:-
“Many people have been looking forward to the coal plant’s closure for years. Council leaders and others who support the idea of building a gas plant are conning future generations who would have to deal its effects.
“The future of Scotland is in renewable energy which is already providing high quality jobs without wrecking the environment that we rely on. Rather than meekly waiting to hear what Scottish Power owners, Iberdrola, decide we should be empowering local people to put forward ideas for the site.”
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