A coalition of 44 climate, anti-poverty, and marine protection groups protests against a planned gas-burning power station in Peterhead, Scotland, arguing that it goes against Scotland’s goal for net-zero emissions by 2045 and could perpetuate reliance on fossil fuels, despite claims of supporting low-carbon energy backup.
A coalition of 44 groups has lodged a protest with Scottish ministers against a proposed gas-burning power station in Peterhead, Scotland. The coalition, comprising climate, anti-poverty, and marine protection organizations, argues that the development contradicts Scotland’s target for net-zero emissions by 2045. The groups, including Oxfam Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland, and Fuel Poverty Action, contend that the new power station will perpetuate reliance on expensive fossil fuels, exacerbating both climate and cost-of-living crises.
The existing Peterhead gas power station, operated by SSE, is Scotland’s largest polluter. Concerns are shared by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which has stressed the need for carbon capture and storage infrastructure to meet emissions reduction targets. The new power station, a joint venture between SSE and Equinor, is planned to run beyond the 2045 net-zero deadline, raising further alarm among critics.
The coalition’s letter to Scottish Government officials, including First Minister John Swinney and Climate Action Minister Gillian Martin, calls for outright rejection of the project. They emphasize the potential harmful impacts on the environment and on Scottish households, who may face higher energy prices tied to volatile international gas markets. SSE and Equinor maintain that the new plant will provide essential low-carbon backup to renewable energy sources, potentially contributing significantly to the UK’s carbon capture goals. However, the debate over the future of fossil fuel infrastructure versus renewable energy remains contentious.
