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Row over coal power station plan Row over coal power station plan
(about 3 hours later)
Councillors in Kent have voted in favour of building a coal-fired power station, the UK's first for 24 years.Councillors in Kent have voted in favour of building a coal-fired power station, the UK's first for 24 years.
Medway Council gave its approval to a planning application by energy company E.ON UK to build two new cleaner coal units at Kingsnorth, near Rochester.Medway Council gave its approval to a planning application by energy company E.ON UK to build two new cleaner coal units at Kingsnorth, near Rochester.
But opponents say the move would be a serious setback to efforts to cut the UK's carbon emissions, with Greenpeace labelling it "dinosaur technology".But opponents say the move would be a serious setback to efforts to cut the UK's carbon emissions, with Greenpeace labelling it "dinosaur technology".
The final decision on the plan will now be made by the government.The final decision on the plan will now be made by the government.
The last coal-fired plant was built in Northern Ireland 24 years ago.The last coal-fired plant was built in Northern Ireland 24 years ago.
'Largest polluter''Largest polluter'
E.ON says it would demolish an existing power station at the Kingsnorth site and replace it with one that is 20% cleaner.E.ON says it would demolish an existing power station at the Kingsnorth site and replace it with one that is 20% cleaner.
HAVE YOUR SAY I would certainly rather see a modern coal-fired power station built than a nuclear plant Rosie, UK Send us your comments Paul Golby, chief executive, said the company had made a public commitment to reduce its carbon emissions by half by 2030.HAVE YOUR SAY I would certainly rather see a modern coal-fired power station built than a nuclear plant Rosie, UK Send us your comments Paul Golby, chief executive, said the company had made a public commitment to reduce its carbon emissions by half by 2030.
"This particular investment is significantly more efficient than conventional coal plants and that is equivalent to taking about half a million cars off the road," he told BBC Radio 4."This particular investment is significantly more efficient than conventional coal plants and that is equivalent to taking about half a million cars off the road," he told BBC Radio 4.
He added that the new power station would hopefully become the UK's first clean carbon demonstration plant, with carbon captured from it and stored in depleted oil fields under the North Sea.He added that the new power station would hopefully become the UK's first clean carbon demonstration plant, with carbon captured from it and stored in depleted oil fields under the North Sea.
But Ben Stuart, the communications director of Greenpeace, accused E.ON of being "the largest polluter in Britain and being reckless in building the power station".But Ben Stuart, the communications director of Greenpeace, accused E.ON of being "the largest polluter in Britain and being reckless in building the power station".
Thousands of objections
He said carbon capture and storage was not viable in the first half of the 21st Century and the new plant would emit 8.4 million tonnes of CO2 every year.He said carbon capture and storage was not viable in the first half of the 21st Century and the new plant would emit 8.4 million tonnes of CO2 every year.
"A new generation of coal-fired power stations in the UK beginning with Kingsnorth would quite simply end any hope we have that Britain can meet its long-term climate change targets," he explained."A new generation of coal-fired power stations in the UK beginning with Kingsnorth would quite simply end any hope we have that Britain can meet its long-term climate change targets," he explained.
Medway Council does not have the power to grant or reject planning permission, but was asked to give its views to the government.Medway Council does not have the power to grant or reject planning permission, but was asked to give its views to the government.
It had received nearly 9,000 objections, more than 8,000 of them in the form of e-mails, postcards and letters in standard Greenpeace wording.It had received nearly 9,000 objections, more than 8,000 of them in the form of e-mails, postcards and letters in standard Greenpeace wording.
But earlier officers had recommended that the council did not object.But earlier officers had recommended that the council did not object.
Bob Marshall-Andrews, Labour MP for Medway, said the application was of national and international importance because of its impact on the environment.Bob Marshall-Andrews, Labour MP for Medway, said the application was of national and international importance because of its impact on the environment.
E.ON UK says that, if approved, the power station would be up and running by 2012 and would provide enough energy for 1.5m homes.E.ON UK says that, if approved, the power station would be up and running by 2012 and would provide enough energy for 1.5m homes.