Weymouth & Portland Council planning committee decided on 6 January to grant permission for W4B's biofuel power station at Portland.  The power station will burn palm oil and increase by one third the volume of palm oil currently being imported to this country for energy usage (transport biofuel).

The committee reviewed the three reasons given for refusing the previous application in September and decided W4B had done enough to address all of them:

1. human health impact assessment

2. visual appearance

3. distance the fuel is transported

Note that on the last point, the committee only took account of the carbon analysis relating to the transport of fuel, and ruled out any consideration of the greenhouse gas impacts and other environmental impacts of producing the fuel or even burning it.

The voting was 6 - 5 for granting permission. All 6 Conservative councillors voted for, all three Lib Dems, one Labour and the one Independent voted against.

Despite about 25 objectors speaking each for 3 minutes, a total of 860 objections received plus a last minute petition of Portland residents numbering around 400, Conservative councillors were resolute that:

1. they don't have to take account of wider environmental impacts when making this decision

2. the RSPO is a trustworthy organisation and will ensure the palm oil is sustainable

3. having a possible 22 local jobs and a bit more income from use of Portland port are more important than impacts on people living in palm oil producing countries, the air pollution imposed on people living in Portland itself including the nearby prison, on tourists who will have their enjoyment of the local area ruined, and the devastating effects of de-forestation on climate and biodiversity.

The committee chairman warned the councillors that refusing permission would lead to an appeal, which could cost the council a lot of money and as a result other services might be put at risk. Ironic therefore that since getting permission, W4B has continued with its appeal against the refusal on the first application - which will of course cost the council money.

A local resident's letter in the Dorset Echo described how the chairman went on the attack once the objectors had spoken, (see below).

Minutes of the planning committee meeting will be on the Weymouth Council website from 25 January.

You can send in comments on the appeal at the Planning Inspector's website. The deadline for comments is 1st March.

Weymouth now has the dubious accolade of being the first council in the UK to allow palm oil to be used for electricity generation.

Some facts about Portland biofuel power station:

1. It will increase by one third the volume of palm oil currently being imported to this country for energy usage (transport biofuel). W4B's Bristol power station will double it. And W4B are intent on building more power stations.

2. Total palm oil consumption in the EU in 2005 equated to 9.7kg per person per year. That was for food, cosmetics and other purposes. The Portland power station will consume 30,000 tonnes of palm oil per year, equivalent to 460 kg per person in Weymouth and 43 kg per person in Dorset.

3. The default greenhouse gas saving for palm oil given in the EU Renewable Energy Directive is just 26%. That excludes any consideration of indirect land use change. W4B's electricity from Portland is therefore far from green. Offshore wind farms are now being developed for the Dorset coast which will deliver much greater supplies of electricity with close to 100% GHG savings.

 A local resident's letter in the Dorset Echo described how the chairman went on the attack once the objectors had spoken (below).  To make the image bigger press CTRL and + at the same time to get desired size.