Kingsnorth: Victory For Environmental Campaigners

Oh joy of joys! We cannot stop grinning at this exciting if long overdue news! Can it really be true?

From: Paul Lewis, Guardian, 8Oct09
The decision to abandon plans for the controversial coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth was last night heralded as a victory by environmental activists who have campaigned against the proposals since 2006.

Thousands of protesters have targeted the power station on the Hoo Peninsula in Kent in recent years in one of the most sustained campaigns against climate change in the UK.

News of energy giant E.ON's apparent retreat spread quickly through the protest movement via text messages and Twitter. At 9.30pm last night, the development was announced at a meeting of about 60 anti-Kingsnorth activists who had gathered in a hotel in Rochester. The mixture of local activists and representatives from the Climate Camp network, who had gathered for a meeting called "Kingsnorth – the great debate", were informed about E.ON's announcement after a participant, Tim Jones, 28, received details on his mobile phone.

"There was initially disbelief," he said. "Then everyone cheered and clapped. The meeting was delighted that it now looks like the dirty coal power station will not go ahead."" Full article here

Indymedia report a more cautious victory in the struggle against fossil fuel energy reliance.

From: Iggy, Indymedia London, 8Oct09
"Eon has claimed the decision was a result in lower electricity demand during the recession with a company statement saying, "We expect to defer an investment decision on the Kingsnorth proposals for up to two to three years".

On the surface it sounds a bit like the victory campaigners have been after - no new Kingsnorth, the first of a wave of new coal-fired power station. However their announcement isn't exactly strong and it turns out that Eon are still seeking a billion pounds from the government for the project so clearly they'd still like to go ahead if the sums add up for them. As for the delay, they'd not have been starting construction until after the government coughed up a billion quid to subsidise the project and that wasn't expected until 2011.

Nether-the-less there is no denying that this represents some sort of a a victory for climate activism." Full article here

Further Info:
Guardian / Indymedia London / Indymedia - Climate Swoop on Ratcliffe