Eon switch on to community renewables.
KCAM | 01.04.2010 07:25 | Climate Chaos | Energy Crisis | Social Struggles
a bit repetitive at the moment and needs for key messages worked into
it, and some more humour. comments / ideas welcome.
PRESS RELEASE 01-04-2010
GREEN ENERGY GIFT FOR MEDWAY
German energy giant EON have announced that they are shelving
controversial plans for a massive expansion of coal and gas
electricity generation in the Medway region. The surprising news
emerged today as Eon contractors broke ground at the offices of Medway
Council on Dock Road, Chatham, and started installing wind turbines
and solar panels.
Eon media relations officer, Joe King announced, "We realise that
continued investment in fossil fuels is a dangerous distraction from
the urgent need to develop truly sustainable technologies so we've
abandoned our dated plans to continue burning gas and coal. This wind
farm for Medway council is just the beginning, we're also offering all
our customers heavily discounted shares in future community wind farm
schemes, so they'll actually co-own the systems that provide their
power".
In a leaflet passed out to passers by, Eon admitted that until now,
only a trivial amount of their investments had gone into renewables
but promised that would now change. Acknowledging the urgent need to
drastically cut emissions in order to curb global warming and avoid
disastrous climatic tipping points, the company promised they'd
abandon their plans to turn Medway into a CO2 pumping hub, end further
investment into fossil fuels, and instead commit to truly sustainable
energy such as wind and sun.
However, a local activist Bennie Factor, expressed disbelieve, "This
is a joke! All this renewable energy rhetoric represent nothing more
than cyclical greenwash from these energy giants. Sadly, the reality
is that they are still committed to business as usual, damning us all
to continued greenhouse gas emissions and catastrophic climate
change."
KCAM
Additions
Photos of Eons mighty erection
01.04.2010 07:55
KCAM
Homepage:
http://Kcam.co.cc
Detailed statement from Eon
01.04.2010 08:13
01 April 2010 00:01
E.ON UK creates greener generating options
Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, has introduced the concept of local authorities setting up their own energy companies, using renewable energy sources, to share spare capacity via the National Grid. E.ON UK are so impressed by this scheme that it has decided to donate several wind generators to Medway Council, in one of the first large scale community generating schemes in the UK.
E.ON is providing these pump-priming measures to support the potential within this scheme for the much-needed move to a low-carbon economy. Having reviewed the science, E.ON has come to the conclusion that renewables are the only answer to climate change and will end the use of coal-based technologies. The planned pipeline connecting 4 power stations from across the southeast for the removal and storage of carbon dioxide as part of the CCS process, has also been shelved.
Dr Paul Golby, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said: “This is yet another example of how we can change the way that we generate energy in the UK.”
Our investigations have shown that there is a real opportunity for community generating, particularly given the large residential and commercial developments being undertaken in the next decade. We are working alongside the Medway community and its Council to achieve transparency and local accountability, as part of the social control of energy generation. A community renewables-based generating scheme will, within the next 2 years, see the closure and dismantling of Kingsnorth Power Station. E.ON also recognises that the pipeline will be superfluous.
This creative partnership will ensure E.ON’s ongoing viability for the foreseeable future when repeated across the whole of the UK. The company has seen the success of earlier, larger projects of this nature in Germany and feels this will be especially welcome due to the increased number of jobs the project will create within Medway.
The Kingsnorth Power station site will be used as a wind farm location, initially producing 500MW of electricity to supply the needs of over 500,000 homes. E.ON is committed to expanding the production capacity to 1500MW by 2020.
The next step is the delivery of the first E.ON wind generators to Medway Council at Gun Wharf on 1st April 2010 at 8.15am.
Ends
For more information contact:
Cynthia Morgan
Eom
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