Western Mail - 1 August, 2008
SIR – I would like to outline my position on biomass as a renewable energy following comments attributed to me reported in the Western Mail (Upmarket flats fighting plan for local £100m biomass burner, July 28) which implied I was in favour of a biomass proposal in Swansea. This is not the case.
As Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing I am broadly in favour of renewable energy in principle, provided projects are appropriately located and subject to proper controls.
But this does not mean that I believe in overriding the planning process as was the case for the Prenergy 350 megawatt biomass proposal in Port Talbot.
Decisions on all power stations with a capacity of more than 50MW, as is the case with Prenergy proposal, are a matter for the UK Government Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
Anything less than 50MW would come to the Assembly Government and, so far, no plans for a biomass burner in Swansea’s SA1 development have come to me in my role as minister with responsibility for planning.
Every planning application would be treated on its merits.
JANE DAVIDSON
Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing
Welsh Assembly Government
