Friends of the Earth Scotland cautiously welcomes Peterhead CCS deal

Commenting to the news today (Wednesday 9 November 2011) that Scottish and Southern Energy and Shell UK Limited have joined forces to develop a Carbon Capture and Storage project at SSE’s gas-fired power station in Peterhead, Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Chief Executive Stan Blackley said:

“We cautiously welcome the news today to develop a CCS project at Peterhead, which was the only logical step forward since the funding for the Longannet CCS project was pulled last month.

“Carbon capture and storage shouldn’t be an excuse for developing new coal and gas fired power, but only be developed in order to be retrofitted to existing plants.

“While this particular project could reduce Scotland’s carbon emissions, the companies involved still have a long way to go to clean up their own portfolios.

“Shell has been involved in gas flaring, environmental degradation and human rights abuses in Nigeria while SSE is involved in plans for hugely polluting biomass plants in Scotland. Let’s hope that they clean up their acts as well as Peterhead power station.”

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact: Per Fischer, Press Office, Friends of the Earth Scotland t: 0131 243 2719

Notes to Editors

1. SSE press release announcing agreement
www.sse.com/PressReleases2011/JointDevelopmentAgreementCarbonCapture

2. 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, 77 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups – covering every continent. www.foe-scotland.org.uk