Councillor criticised for backing second-best for Pembrokeshire

04 October 2010

A Pembrokeshire county councillor has been criticised for backing second-rate technology for a power station in his area.
 
Friends of the Earth Cymru has hit back at Councillor John Allen-Mirehouse following claims in a motion to the Pembrokeshire County Council cabinet that the group has engaged in 'wrecking' tactics by  referring the Pembroke power station to the European Commission. The county councillor also criticised Jill Evans MEP for supporting the Friends of the Earth Cymru action.
 
The Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, Gordon James, said:
 
"It's regrettable that Cllr Allen-Mirehouse has chosen to back a second-rate technology for Pembrokeshire and to criticise those who want the best for the county.
 
"The power station under construction at Pembroke will threaten the important marine environment of Milford Haven by dumping waste heat into it that would be sufficient to warm around 340,000 homes. We have argued for combined heat and power (CHP) systems that would use this waste heat at nearby LNG terminals and oil refineries.
 
"At the Isle of Grain in Kent, this is precisely what they are doing as the waste heat from the new gas-fired power station will be piped to the nearby LNG terminals [1]. This will save emissions of 350,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year and enough gas to heat 240,000 homes whilst securing long-term jobs.
 
"The Pembroke power station will also use a water cooling system that is not accepted as the best technology in the USA because of the damage it causes to fish and other marine life. Friends of the Earth Cymru has supported the call by the government's environmental experts, the Countryside Council for Wales, for a less damaging cooling system to be used.
 
"If a similar project in Kent uses the best technology, the one in Pembrokeshire, which boasts a richer marine environment, should surely do so."
 
The Pembrokeshire County Council cabinet will today discuss a motion from Cllr Allen-Mirehouse criticising Jill Evans MEP for supporting the Friends of the Earth Cymru action.
 

NOTES

1. E.ON UK Press Release 1st July 2010

For further information, please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577