18/10/2009
Protests at Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station - comments from Association Of Electricity Producers
Commenting on the protests at Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, in Nottinghamshire, David Porter, the Chief Executive of the Association of Electricity Producers said:
‘Physical attacks like this are completely unacceptable. This was billed as a peaceful protest, but the protestors came prepared to do damage and it was anything but peaceful. Property was damaged and people were injured.
‘Not only that, but, taxpayers get a huge bill for the police; E.ON UK incurs costs in millions for extra security measures; the power station staff are shut in the plant, unable to go home to their families and local people suffer serious traffic disruption. For all this, the debate about carbon emissions has not been advanced by so much as a word, let alone a sentence.
‘The electricity generating industry is fully engaged in the transition to a low carbon future. But, this cannot be achieved overnight. We need a range of technologies and up to £200 billion of investment to get us there. In the meantime, the people of the UK expect a reliable and competitively-priced electricity supply – something that seems unimportant to those people who set out cheerfully to close down a vital power station.’
ENDS
Contact:
Rachel Hunter
Communications Executive
Tel: 020 7930 9390
Direct: 020 7747 2922