Gas-fired power plant and concrete crushing activity at an old quarry

 

The enquirer came to us, concerned about two plans, which will be located right next to each other; first, a 20 MW gas-fired power plant which will include 10 natural gas-fuelled engines and second, a concrete crushing facility at an old quarry at the former Seiont Brickworks near Caernarfon, Gwynedd. Though these are separate applications, the proximity will have a cumulative impact on the area. The purpose of the former is to provide back-up power when solar and wind outputs are low. Despite claims that this will assist the switch to renewable energy, alarm bells have been ringing in the local community due to the potential environmental impacts.

The site in question is located near residential homes, a hospital, a local park, sports fields, the River Seiont and ancient woodland. Concerns from the local community are centred around the impact on human health and the environment as a result of likely air pollution from Nitrogen Oxides and ‘fugitive dust’, noise, traffic issues from the estimated 120 HGV lorries a day that will be accessing the site and climate change due to emissions of greenhouse gases from the power plant. This issue on climate change has been picked up by Arfon MS Siân Gwenllian. Ms Gwenllian spoke in the Senedd to claim the proposal “contradicted the spirit and aims of the Well-being of Future Generations Act and the Welsh government’s climate targets, and should be rejected”.

ELF is assisting the local community group Caernarfon Lân in objecting to these two developments, to prevent the harmful combined impacts these developments may have. You can make a donation to the group to help them raise funds to fight the two developments by following the link here