Centrica Energy u-turns on Barrow biomass plant

CENTRICA Energy has repealed its application to construct a biomass power station on the site of its existing gas powered station at Roosecote, Barrow-in-Furness.

Local opposition, led by the Furness Opposes Biomass Group, and local authorities including Councillor Ray Guselli, attracted support from over 11,000 local residents.

Sajjad Karim, the North West Conservative member of the European Parliament, said: “The many thousands of local residents who stood together to oppose these plans can now heave a sigh of relief in the knowledge that the Furness Opposes Biomass campaign made the difference.

“I met with Centrica at the beginning of the year to hear their plans. As proposals developed I continued to work with local Councillors and residents, especially Cllr Ray Guselli, and wrote to Centrica to emphasize local concerns and the extremely high level of opposition.

“I am delighted that Centrica have now seen sense. We must now work with Centrica during the winding down period for the existing power station and turn our energies into ensuring the minimising of any local job losses and looking at a wide range of alternative uses for the site alongside other options for local developments, including the leisure potential of this beautiful corner of Cumbria.”

But Centrica Energy did not cite local opposition as the reason for its withdrawal, instead pointing to a lack of government support for dedicated biomass schemes.

Centrica Energy said in a statement: “Over recent months it has become increasingly apparent that, while the government supports biomass as part of the UK’s future energy mix, there is a strong preference for converting coal fired power stations to biomass or to encourage co-firing, rather than dedicated biomass plants as we had proposed.”