Leith biomass debate heats up

Members of the Edinburgh community have staunchly opposed the proposed plant, signing a petition citing the potential health risks of plant emissions and the unsustainability of biomass energy.

Advice group Planning Aid for Scotland hosted a meeting last week to give the Leith community an opportunity to learn more about the proposed plan. Fierce opposition from the local community was met with anger from Forth Energy officials as both sides stated their claims.

Forth Energy officials refused to answer questions verbally, but promised their commitment to answer all questions on the Leith Neighborhood Partnership website.

The biomass plant was proposed by Forth Energy, a partnership between dock owners in the Forth Ports of Leith and Scottish and Southern Energy. It would generate energy by burning millions of tonnes of wood and other organic materials. The majority of the wood would be imported from the United States.

The plant would also feature a chimney stack double the height of Edinburgh's Scott Monument. Forth Energy claims that the biomass plan will be a green initiative, despite suggestions from officials estimating that 17,500 lorry trips would be required to fulfil the plant’s wood requirements.

The plan has been met with opposition from Friends of The Earth US who oppose the biomass plan because the imported wood from North America would greatly harm ecosystems in the southeastern United States.

Kate McMahon, the biofuels campaign co-ordinator for the enviromental group explained: “The southeastern US contains some of the most biodiversity-rich ecosystems in North America and have experienced massive losses with the conversion of natural forest to industrial pine plantations.

"According to the US Forest Service Southern Forests Research Assessment, only about 182 million acres of the former 356 million acres of natural forest still remain."

Calum Wilson, managing director of Forth Energy said: “The plant represents an investment of around £600 million. During the construction phase, which will last approximately three years, an average of 450 construction workers will be employed. 45 permanent operational jobs and a further 30 permanent jobs in the Port handling the fuel will be created. The plant is designed to operate for 25 years - these are jobs for a generation.

"Further to this, the plant will be a catalyst for growth in the local economy, putting the Port of Leith at the heart of the renewable energy industry and encouraging further investment.“

Despite the heavy opposition, Forth Energy claims that 72 per cent of people in the area support its plans for the biomass plant. They hope to secure the approval of the Scottish government by the second half of this year and would ideally begin construction in 2012.

If successful, the plant will open in 2016.