Developer has appealed against Bristol Council's refusal to grant planning permission
W4B Energy intend to build a 50MW power station in Avonmouth Docks. It will burn 90,000 tonnes of palm oil per year to generate so-called renewable electricity. Bristol Council refused planning permission in February agreeing with campaigners that fuel imported from Asia and South America cannot be sustainable - particularly when industrial scale palm oil plantations are one of the major causes of deforestation and habitat destruction.

W4B has appealed the refusal and a planning inspector will now make the final decision. A public inquiry later this year - date to be announced - will hear arguments from both sides. Written comments are now being taken, with a closing date of 2 June.
Although Bristol Council refused permission because they view this use of biofuel as unsustainable, there are other valid reasons for refusing permission, including local air quality impacts. It is important that these other reasons are put forward in objections sent to the Planning Inspector.

W4B have tried to head off concerns about their proposed development by suggesting that they will only use palm oil for a short period until jatropha oil is available in commercial quantities. Currently palm oil is considerably cheaper than jatropha, and Biofuelwatch see no reason to think that jatropha will ever be competitive on the global markets. Jatropha grown on an industrial scale has many adverse social and environmental impacts and uses even more land area than palm oil.

The Biofuelwatch website (www.biofuelwatch.org.uk) has more background and details on how to submit comments to the planning inspector.

THE DEADLINE IS 2 JUNE

If you have any questions regarding responses to the appeal or if you want to do more to help us fight the appeal, please email us at info@biofuelwatch.org.uk.