MORE than 13,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Scottish Government to reject plans for a new gas burning power station in Peterhead.
Energy company SSE and fossil fuel giant Equinor have proposed building an additional facility next to their existing gas-fired plant at Peterhead Power Station.
If approved, the plant would be in operation by 2027 and running for decades to come.
Equinor state that they would also seek to implement carbon capture technology at the new plant, although there is currently no timeframe proposed for when this would happen.
But a petition hosted by Friends of the Earth Scotland and 350.org calling on the Scottish Government to reject the plans has been signed by more than 13,000 people.
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The petition was handed to the Scottish Government at St Andrews House in Edinburgh on Monday.
“The Scottish Government is already failing on its climate targets, but instead of stepping up and taking climate action, it is considering approving this hugely polluting new power station,” said Freya Aitchison, an oil and gas campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland.
“Another gas plant at Peterhead will increase climate-wrecking emissions and keep the Scottish public locked into sky-high energy bills for decades to come.
"Thousands of people are supporting this campaign and telling ministers to reject this controversial development and instead focus on the solutions that we know work, such as publicly owned renewable energy.
Tommy Vickerstaff of 350.org added: "Increasing the investment and capacity of Scotland's number one polluter is dangerous and unnecessary.
“We urge the Scottish government to reject these obsolete proposals and instead fund and support incredible renewable energy opportunities that are waiting to be unlocked across Scotland.
“Guaranteed retraining and support for Scotland’s existing oil and gas workers must also be part of these investments."
SSE and Equinor have been contacted for comment.
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