In a question to the Energy Secretary at Westminster, Seamus Logan MP has gained assurances that there will be a UK Government announcement on the Acorn project in June.
The Aberdeenshire North and Moray East MP highlighted to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, that plans for a green generator at the Peterhead Power Station are ‘shovel ready’ but depend on approval of the CCS Acorn project at St Fergus.
Seamus Logan said:
“Ed Miliband stood up and reiterated his support for Acorn while saying it would be a matter for the spending review in June. But now surely is the time to deliver – if Scottish Carbon Capture is coming down the line, then it should be confirmed at the Spring Statement next week, not delayed till June.
“Much is riding on this commitment from the UK Government including progress at Peterhead Power Station on decarbonised power using Carbon Capture and Storage to ensure that the site can continue to provide essential flexible generation in a net zero world.
“Committing to Acorn will be transformative for the North-East with the benefits this will bring in terms of employment, supply chain opportunities and climate action. I believe that Peterhead in my constituency and the wider region deserves to be an integral part of our journey to net zero as a nation. Scottish Business leaders have recently reiterated their support for these projects and the St Fergus CCS site as “an immediate priority” for the UK Government, which I wholeheartedly echo.
“The days of warm words and rhetoric should have given way to firm financial commitment a long time ago so now it’s imperative that Westminster gives the green light for Scottish Carbon Capture as quickly as possible.”
