Cockenzie Power Station Demolition

Commenting on the demolition of the chimneys and turbine hall at Cockenzie power station taking place at noon on Saturday 27th Sep 2015, Dr Richard Dixon, Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:

“The demolition of the iconic Cockenzie chimneys will dramatically change the Lothians landscape and signals the imminent end for coal in Scotland. For those who’ve worked at the plant it may well be an emotional day but as a country it shows the positive steps we’ve taken in the fight against climate change and for clean energy.”

Scotland’s last coal-fired power station, at Longannet in Fife, will close in March next year. Scotland is aiming to make 100% of our electricity needs from renewables by 2020, up from about 10% in 2000.

Dr Dixon continued:

“Scotland has undergone a renewable energy revolution in the past 15 years and the demolition of Cockenzie perfectly illustrates that change. Our electricity system is in transition from one dependent on dirty, polluting coal to clean, reliable renewables.

“The Scottish Government has been a keen supporter of renewable energy but they should commit to leaving new sources of fossil fuels in the ground by banning fracking and underground coal gasification.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. Details of the demolition plans http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-34151702

2. Cockenzie Power Station opened in 1967 and power production stopped in March 2013. Several proposals are under discussion for the future of the site, from a cruiseliner terminal to a wind-turbine assembly plant.

3. Friends of the Earth Scotland is:
* Scotland's leading environmental campaigning organisation
* An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland
* Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 75 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups. www.foe-scotland.org.uk