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The 350MW Prenergy woodchip power station goes to planning appeal on 27th April

The Prenergy biomass project has gone to a planning appeal with the Welsh Assembly Government. The appeal hearing will be on 27th April 2010. Part of the project (the fuel storage) was rejected by Neath Port Talbot councilors in local planning in June 2009. The appeal hearing with the WAG Planning Inspectorate will be held at the new Neath Port Talbot council offices in (Brunel Way, Britton Ferry, Neath) between 27th -30th April 2010. Unfortunately the WAG will not allow us to raise the sustainability issue of the wood fuel used for this power station because this project got outlining planning permission three years ago, before these issues were appreciated. Our local concerns are dealt with in our submission to the Welsh Assembly Planning Inspectorate.

Support from Plaid Cymru against the Prenergy power station in Port Talbot.

Letter of support from Bethan Jenkins AM for Plaid Cymru to Jane Davidson (Minister for the Environment Sustainability and Housing - Welsh Assembly Government )

I am writing to you to register my strongest objection to Prenergy’s plans for a
biomass woodchip-burning power station in Port Talbot.

1. It will make worse Neath Port Talbot’s pollution levels.

2. There is no guarantee of regular supply.

3. There is no guarantee that woodchip can be offloaded at Port Talbot

4. There are alternatives being considered for the area.

5. There are considerable safety concerns among local people.

6. There is overwhelming opposition to this proposal locally.

UK's Biomass Ambitions Threatened By Supply Chain Flaws (Verdantix)

RISI's Wood Biomass Market Report dispels 'overabundant waste wood'

Biomass technology ‘could hit environment’ (Western mail 14th April 2010)

For over two years our group has raised awareness about the un-sustainability of supplying 25 Million tonnes of woodchip imports to power UK biomass power generation projects. This is now generally recognised as being a major flaw for many schemes in the pipeline. On the whole most developers of these large scale biomass power generation plants have been extremely vague about where they intend to source their woodchip fuel. According to the Renewable Energy Association some 50 biomass projects totaling £13 Billion are on hold due to funding uncertainty. The Official line for the delay in that investors are concerned about long term funding uncertainty and subsidy. The underlying issue is that many expert biomass reports are now highlighting the supply chain problems for UK biomass created by the massive increase in demand for imported wood fuel that cannot be met.