Demonstrators Prevent 10,000 Tonnes of CO2 Entering Atmosphere

Environmental activists occupying the West Burton Gas power plant in Nottinghamshire have so far prevented 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions from reaching the atmosphere.

One of the No Dash for Gas activists, Ewa, said, “When we did the maths this morning and realised what an environmental impact we’re making, it suddenly hit home just how important radical action like this can be.”

Sixteen protesters climbed the chimneys of West Burton gas-fired power station early last Monday, halting construction and shutting down the plant. Two were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass yesterday after stringing a rope 100 metres between the two 100 metre chimneys, and a further eight descended from the chimneys this morning, enabling six others to stay longer with the remaining food supplies.

West Burton is the UK’s newest gas plant, and the first of 20 new gas-fired power stations planned by the government. Combined Cycle Gas Turbine plants emit 2371 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide a day, equivalent to what an average home would use in 182 years, or the amount saved by taking 465 medium-sized cars off the road.

“Hurricane Sandy is being directly linked to climate change, which is directly linked to the amount of fossil fuels, like gas, that we burn. Being up here in light of the damage we’re seeing from the hurricane feels like the most responsible thing we could be doing,” said Ewa.

To achieve the low carbon national grid of 2030, the Committee on Climate Change – The UK Government’s independent climate advisers – advised that the generation of electricity should produce no more than 50g of CO₂ for every kilowatt hour. Gas generated electricity produces 350g CO₂ for every kilowatt hour at the point of generation.

In a letter to the Energy Climate Change Secretary, Ed Davey, Chair of the CCC John Gummer warned that the current government policies relating to gas based electricity generation may be illegal: “extensive use of unabated gas-fired capacity… in 2030 and beyond would be incompatible with meeting legislated carbon budgets.”

As a result of diminishing supplies, gas must now be extracted from the ground via a complex and inefficient method known as ‘fracking’. This ‘shale gas’ is extracted by injecting extremely high pressure water and rock-dissolving fluids deep underground to break apart hard shale rocks, releasing the gas.

In June last year, a company involved in fracking in Lancashire suspended operations after a 1.5 magnitude earthquake near Blackpool. It was the second earthquake in the area in the space of a few months, leading experts to warn it may have been the result of fracking.

Another of the protesters at West Burton, Anneka, said, “Unlike government ministers, No Dash for Gas will not have discussions with EDF behind closed doors. If they want to talk with us they need to do it in a transparent and open way.

The dash for gas is a direct result of intense lobbying by the Big Six energy companies; and given that gas is such an expensive and volatile commodity, their influence over politicians is going to have a huge impact on the poorest people in this country currently living in fuel poverty.”

No Dash for Gas have invited EDF to discuss the occupation with them via Twitter, but are yet to receive a response.