NOW! We have a unique opportunity to take action that could drive Forth Energy out once and for all - from Leith, and perhaps also from Grangemouth, Rosyth and Dundee!

The system of taxpayer subsidies to renewable energy producers is currently under review. These subsidies are known as Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) or, in Scotland, Renewable Obligations (Scotland) or ROS. There is a new Scottish consultation just opened, to ask people what they think about the subsidies. The Scottish Government recently announced proposals that could reduce or completely remove renewable energy subsidies from large, electricity-only biomass fueled power plants, such as the one proposed for Leith.

Without the enormous subsidies - which could add up to £1billion in subsidies over the twenty year lifespan of the power plant (over and above profits from selling the electricity) - the business plans for the Leith Biomass plant might look considerably less attractive to Forth Energy. (Forth Energy CEO Calum Wilson said at a meeting back in 2010 that the proposed Leith biomass plant "would not be commercially viable" without the subsidies.)

The consultation is open from now until early January 2012, see more details here (Biomass is in Section 3). http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/10/27123530/0

The No Leith Biomass campaign group will be responding, as are many other environmental groups. Individuals and community groups should also respond. It is easy to do as the Consultation poses specific questions for you to answer, you don't even need to plan and write from scratch. Here is Greener Leith's Draft response, for starters, to get you going! https://docs.google.com/document/d/16Jb9SG_GqADCvp-hKvlGIGg2U6hiINn_BV2Z4BuClh4/edit?hl=en_GB&pli=1#

Or just watch this space for more news soon on other ways to support the campaign to remove these subsidies!