Rennie challenges government to remove Kingsnorth from CCS competition

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th Oct 2009

On the day that Jim Murphy MP is due to visit Longannet power station, West Fife MP Willie Rennie has challenged the Scottish Secretary and his Government to remove Kingsnorth from the carbon capture storage competition after E.ON confirmed that plans to build their new coal-fired power station will not be ready until 2016.

Following today's announcement that Kingsnorth will not be able to meet the 2014 CCS deadline, Mr Rennie has called on EON to stop wasting the government's time and for Kingsnorth to be removed from the CCS competition to clear the way for Longannet.

Commenting Mr Rennie said:

"Kingsnorth is now a dead duck. It's owners admit that it won't meet the crucial 2014 deadline so it should now drop out of the competition to clear the way for those who can

"We can't afford to wait any longer to take the action that is needed to tackle the irrevocable damage of climate change. It's vital that we now get on with job in hand and don't let the problems of Kingsnorth stand in the way of progress.

"Longannet is now the only real candidate capable of meeting the CCS deadline. EON's statement should be acted upon by the Government. If the company don't withdraw they should be removed."